POSSESSION w/ INTENT DISTRIBUTE: NOT GUILTY
SCHOOL ZONE VIOLATION: NOT GUILTY

Brockton Police Officers were assigned to foot patrol in the area of Legion Parkway in Brockton, which is a high-crime area. While on foot patrol, an informant told officers that a tall black male was dealing crack out of a white SUV in front of the Alamo Bar. The officers went to the Alamo Bar and inquired within as to owner of the white SUV. They received no response from the patrons inside the bar. One of the officers was approached by the bartender who stated that Michael Shelby is dealing crack and has made numerous trips to the bathroom to conduct drug sales. The officer recognized the name Michael Shelby and knew him to be a large black male. The officers then observed the Defendant walking westerly on the sidewalk and they followed him. The officers observed the Defendant discard some papers (Lottery tickets) on the sidewalk. Observing this violation of a city ordinance (littering), the officer called out to the Defendant, “Shelby, stop.” Defendant did not stop but walked quickly for approximately 20-25’ and he entered a convenient store abruptly. One officer observed the Defendant discard something in the trash container inside the convenient store. The officer approached the trash container and observed what appeared to be crack cocaine. The officer spoke with the clerk who confirmed that the person who just left had thrown something in the trash. Meanwhile, the other officer confronted the Defendant on the sidewalk. Officers arrested the Defendant and found two cell phones and $1,430 in cash. Attorney Gerald J. Noonan argued a Motion to Suppress the Evidence seized from his client (cell phones and cash) on the grounds that the Brockton Police relied upon a littering violation as a pretext to disguise their real reason for stopping the Defendant. The Motion was denied by Judge Jeffrey Locke but defense counsel elicited valuable testimony for the subsequent trial. At the trial, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan attacked the credibility of the police officers. Specifically, Attorney Noonan challenged the testimony of the officer that he observed the Defendant discard something in the trash can inside the convenient store, which provided the basis for arresting the Defendant. Attorney Noonan pointed out that the officer was in no position to have made that observation. The officer was approximately 40-feet away from the convenient store when he supposedly observed the Defendant (through a glass door at approximately 7:00 at night) turn immediately to the right, bend over, and discard something into the trash container. When the Defendant had previously discarded the lottery ticket on the sidewalk, this same officer that he did not know where the paper landed. Having thoroughly attacked the credibility of the police officer, Attorney Noonan obtained not guilty verdicts on all charges.

Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets Not Guilty verdicts on felony drug charges with mandatory jail sentence.