People v. Davis

The facts are undisputed.

Hackett, a uniformed patrolman of the Housing Department Police, was conversing with a fellow officer on the sidewalk in front of their office on Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, a high crime area where there were complaints and arrests for dangerous drugs, when he observed defendant about 10 feet distant, holding a woman’s red and white polka dot purse, about two by three inches in size with a zipper top. Defendant opened the zipper halfway and withdrew matches. The officers moved to within three feet of defendant when Hackett saw what appeared to be glassine envelopes in the…