Opinion
January 24, 1994
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (Hentel, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
A police officer observed the defendant, alone on a street at night, engaging in a conversation with a person who pulled up in a car. The defendant then picked up something from under a nearby tree and handed it to the driver in exchange for currency. The officer walked over to the tree and observed a plastic bag containing vials of what appeared to be crack-cocaine. Upon discovering the contraband in plain view on a public street, the officer had probable cause to arrest the defendant (see, People v. Banker, 187 A.D.2d 602; People v. Guine, 173 A.D.2d 849; People v. Smith, 143 A.D.2d 109).
The sentence imposed was not excessive (see, People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80).
The defendant's remaining contentions do not warrant reversal. Rosenblatt, J.P., Ritter, Copertino and Joy, JJ., concur.