Police took a man into custody in Queens on Tuesday, March 18, on the suspicion of having illegal drugs and weapons in his residence. When police searched his place of residence in Sunnyside Gardens, they reportedly found drugs, real and imitation weapons and some cash.
Officers with the Patrol Borough Queens North Anti-Crime Unit entered a residence on 44th Street at 5 a.m. as part of a pre-existing investigation. When they searched the premises, they reportedly found a collection of guns, some cash and drugs. The police report that they found 169 rounds of ammunition along with three imitation guns and four real firearms. The firearms included a .44 Ruger revolver, 9mm Glock 17 semi-automatic, .22 High Standard semi-automatic and a .357 Taurus Magnum revolver. The imitation weapons were designed to look like an AR-15 and a 9 mm Uzi. The third imitation gun was not described. As for the drugs, they reportedly found seven plants of marijuana, hydromorphone, Xanax and just over 17 grams of crack cocaine. The man charged with possessing them is 42 years old and is facing charges for weapon and ammunition possession, drug possession and violation of local law in the criminal case.
In a case such as this, a criminal defense attorney might examine the search warrant if the police had one. The U.S. Constitution protects the home of an individual from police search without probable cause or a warrant. The evidence may not make it to court if the police did not have a warrant to search the home, and without this evidence, the charges will have little to substantiate them.
A defense lawyer might also investigate to see if the man charged was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even if the man is the owner or renter of the premises, it is possible that the contraband belonged to someone else who had access to the place.
Source: Sunnyside Post, Police raid Sunnyside Gardens house-find firearms
Source: CBS New York, Man Arrested; Guns And Drugs Found In Sunnyside
