People v. Boone

Decision Date04 May 1992
Citation583 N.Y.S.2d 299,183 A.D.2d 721
PartiesThe PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Ronald BOONE, Appellant.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Philip L. Weinstein, New York City (Elizabeth B. Emmons, of counsel), for appellant.

Charles J. Hynes, Dist. Atty., Brooklyn (Jay M. Cohen, Monique Ferrell, Victor Barall and Noreen Healey, of counsel), for respondent.

Before THOMPSON, J.P., and LAWRENCE, MILLER and RITTER, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Goldstein, J.), rendered March 19, 1990, convicting him of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress physical evidence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant was observed by the arresting police officer in what appeared to be a narcotics transaction. When the officer and his partner approached him, the defendant dropped a brown paper bag containing eight glassine envelopes. As his partner picked up the bag, the arresting officer stopped the defendant. At this point, the defendant raised his arms and dropped two additional glassine envelopes.

We agree with the hearing court that the police had a reasonable suspicion that the defendant was involved in a felony or misdemeanor justifying an investigatory stop which ripened into probable cause to arrest (see, People v. Hollman, 79 N.Y.2d 181, 581 N.Y.S.2d 619, 590 N.E.2d 204). The hearing court's determinations as to credibility are afforded great weight on appeal and should not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by the evidence (see, People v. Prochilo, 41 N.Y.2d 759, 395 N.Y.S.2d 635, 363 N.E.2d 1380; People v. Almodovar, 168 A.D.2d 454, 562 N.Y.S.2d 236). Contrary to the defendant's contention, the arresting officer's testimony regarding his observation of the narcotics transaction was not incredible as a matter of law. In addition, we note that the defendant abandoned the paper bag when he dropped it prior to being stopped by the police (see, People v. Aybar, 162 A.D.2d 283, 556 N.Y.S.2d 875; People v. Williams, 123 A.D.2d 652, 506 N.Y.S.2d 917).

We have considered the defendant's remaining contentions and find that they are either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit.

To continue reading

Request your trial
17 cases
  • People v. Bianchi
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • October 3, 1994
    ...record, and find no basis to disturb them (see, People v. Prochilo, 41 N.Y.2d 759, 395 N.Y.S.2d 635, 363 N.E.2d 1380; People v. Boone, 183 A.D.2d 721, 583 N.Y.S.2d 299). COPERTINO, HART and KRAUSMAN, JJ., BALLETTA, Justice Presiding, dissents, and votes to reverse the judgment appealed from......
  • People v. Richard
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • May 15, 1995
    ...contrary to experience, or self-contradictory' " (People v. Garafolo, 44 A.D.2d 86, 88, 353 N.Y.S.2d 500; see, People v. Boone, 183 A.D.2d 721, 583 N.Y.S.2d 299; People v. Silver, 178 A.D.2d 499, 577 N.Y.S.2d 427; People v. Wright, 176 A.D.2d 473, 574 N.Y.S.2d 552; People v. Randall, 175 A.......
  • People v. Rivera
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • October 30, 1995
    ...contrary to experience, or self-contradictory" (People v. Garafolo, 44 A.D.2d 86, 88, 353 N.Y.S.2d 500; see, People v. Boone, 183 A.D.2d 721, 583 N.Y.S.2d 299; People v. Silver, 178 A.D.2d 499, 577 N.Y.S.2d Because the People made a prima facie showing that the defendant was exercising his ......
  • People v. Archibald
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • April 5, 1993
    ...the paper bag to the ground constituted an abandonment (see, People v. Brown, 186 A.D.2d 142, 587 N.Y.S.2d 725; People v. Boone, 183 A.D.2d 721, 583 N.Y.S.2d 299; People v. Eldridge, 178 A.D.2d 609, 577 N.Y.S.2d ...
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT