Opinion
May 4, 1992
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Goldstein, J.).
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). 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; People v. Almodovar, 168 A.D.2d 454). 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; People v. Williams, 123 A.D.2d 652).
We have considered the defendant's remaining contentions and find that they are either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit. Thompson, J.P., Lawrence, Miller and Ritter, JJ., concur.