Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Thomas Medina, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1996-06-25
Citations: 228 A.D.2d 362
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Thomas Medina, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 228
Pages: 362–363

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Thomas Medina, Appellant.
[644 NYS2d 273]

Opinion:
Upon an independent review of the facts, we see no reason to disturb the jury's determination crediting the testimony of the surveilling police officer that from a rooftop observation post he observed defendant taking money from passersby in exchange for red-capped vials handed to them by defendant's companion, and that of the arresting officer that the vials of drugs recovered from an individual identified by the surveil ling officer as a buyer had the same red caps as those recovered from defendant's companion. It was within the jury's province to reject the testimony of defendant's witnesses that defendant was an innocent bystander (People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495; see, People v Albelo, 199 AD2d 79, lv denied 83 NY2d 802). Concur—Sullivan, J. P., Milonas, Wallach, Ross and Nardelli, JJ.