Defendant and three or four other men were observed, at 3:30 A.M., congregated in the lobby of a building known for a high incidence of criminal activity. When the police inquired if defendant was a resident of the building, he did not respond, and avoided eye contact with the officers. At that point, one of the officers observed a suspicious bulge in defendant's waistband, which he ascertained was a hard object by brushing the bulge with the back of his hand. (See, People v. Mathis, 167 A.D.2d 221.) Defendant then attempted to flee, but was immediately stopped, and found to be in possession of a .22 calibre revolver.
Defendant's motion to suppress the gun was properly denied. The initial approach of the police officers constituted a minimal intrusion, and was an exercise of their common law right to inquire (People v. De Bour, 40 N.Y.2d 210). The ensuing patdown and search were warranted by the telltale waistband bulge, defendant's evasiveness, the late hour, and the nature of the location (People v. Merete, 171 A.D.2d 437).
Concur — Rosenberger, J.P., Kupferman, Kassal and Rubin, JJ.