New York's highest court threw out a man's drug conviction because he was arrested after police boarded a public bus and questioned riders, simply because it came from New York City. Rawle McIntosh, who was arrested after cocaine was found in a jacket next to him, pleaded guilty and got a prison term of 8.5 years to life. The state Court of Appeals' 7-0 decision on Thursday said police must act on a legitimate tip or suspicious behavior. Deputies said 1997's 3:30 a.m. questioning of riders at the Albany bus station was justified because it was an overnight bus that came from New York, an area with illegal drug activity. However, Judge George Bundy Smith wrote that if the court approved such conduct, "any person leaving New York City on a bus or train would be subject to being stopped by the police." Defense attorney Terence Kindlon said, "I think maybe people are beginning to think we've given up too much of our constitutional protections to win this war on drugs."
Drug Bussed
New York's highest court threw out a man's drug conviction because he was arrested after police boarded a public bus and questioned riders, simply because it came from New York City. Rawle McIntosh, who was arrested after cocaine was found in a jacket next to him, pleaded guilty and got a prison term of 8.5 years to life. The state Court of Appeals' 7-0 decision on Thursday said police must act on a legitimate tip or suspicious behavior. Deputies said 1997's 3:30 a.m. questioning of riders at the Albany bus station was justified because it was an overnight bus that came from New York, an area with illegal drug activity. However, Judge George Bundy Smith wrote that if the court approved such conduct, "any person leaving New York City on a bus or train would be subject to being stopped by the police." Defense attorney Terence Kindlon said, "I think maybe people are beginning to think we've given up too much of our constitutional protections to win this war on drugs."
