Opinion
May 20, 1997
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Patricia Williams, J.).
Defendant's suppression motion was properly denied. The police had reasonable suspicion sufficient to stop defendant upon seeing him in a drug-prone neighborhood in possession of a softball-sized, cellophane-covered, white package, which the experienced officers recognized as indicative of cocaine, and which defendant quickly stuffed into his pocket upon sight of the officers, thereby negating any innocent interpretation of the package (see, People v. McRay, 51 N.Y.2d 594, 602; People v Alexander, 218 A.D.2d 284, 289, lv denied 88 N.Y.2d 964). Defendant's ensuing flight elevated the level of suspicion to probable cause ( People v. Shaw, 193 A.D.2d 390, lv denied 82 N.Y.2d 853).
Defendant's remaining argument is unpreserved ( People v Smith, 73 N.Y.2d 961), and we decline to review it in the interest of justice.
Concur — Rosenberger, J.P., Nardelli, Rubin and Williams, JJ.