Harris v. Commonwealth

Opinion

BARROW, J.

This appeal is from a conviction of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The defendant contends that the police did not have authority to detain him because he was merely a passenger in. the automobile which the police officer stopped and, further, that the police officer had no authority to remove a film canister he felt in the defendant’s pocket during his search for weapons. We disagree and conclude that the police officer was justified in detaining the defendant and in conducting the search which led to the discovery of the cocaine.

The officer arrested the…