From the Daily News:Cops accused Cesar Rodriguez and Jose Pena of having crack cocaine in their work van, but it was only coconut candy, they said Friday.
Charges were dropped after tests showed they were telling the truth, but the two men plan to file a $2 million suit against the NYPD.
"I spent five days in jail for possession of coconut candy," said Rodriguez, 33, an ex-con who works as a plumber's assistant.
He and Pena were parked near an Arthur Ave. bodega Jan. 15 when two police officers asked to search their green Chevy Venture van, the men said.
The cops found pieces of the crystalline candy - known as crema de coco and sold in bodegas across the city - in a plastic baggie.
Officer Anthony Burgos of the 48th Precinct arrested the duo for drug possession despite their insistence they were guilty only of a sweet tooth, Rodriguez said.
"I kept telling him it is candy," he said.
17 comments:
When candy is outlawed only outlaws will own candy.
YES!!!!!!! Thank you NYPD. You have cost us ANOTHER (possible) 2 MILLION dollars.
Do you know when the city budget is being made they allocate about $250 million just for lawsuits/settlements against the NYPD.
Shit I wish I got caught with some "coconut candy".
Isn't this just a few blocks from where the cops chased a drug suspect into the building and a bullet killed a dog and almost hit an officer. One of 5 suspects who was already handcuffed said he wished that bullet killed him instead of the dog. The cop proceeded the punch and kick the "suspect" as he sat handcuffed on the floor. The leading sargeant just say and watched.
The funny part is that a women has it ALL on tape.
The NYPD is the most incompetent police force in the nation.
How come in the same neighborhood they sell crack openly 24 hours a day? and blast music, spray paint advertisements for drug dealers ie. tags.
fire these incompetent dopes immediately.
Probable cause =small nuisance settlement..............Drugs are diguised with various scents,shapes,etc.The nypd should train cops to use drug field tests,but they rather spend the money on diversity training.
Not for nothing, those bags do look very similar to crack.
Anonymous said: "The nypd should train cops to use drug field tests...."
In the old days (70s) cops would have put in on their tongues to see if it were the real thing.
"In the old days (70s) cops would have put in on their tongues to see if it were the real thing."
Yeah ok then let them get nailed on a NYPD drug test. That's a good idea!
They still should have field tested it.
Those cops didn't need a warrant to search plaintiff's car?
As for Cesar Rodriguez- an ex-con who works as a plumber's assistant- good for him, instead of wasting time with college, he's training for a licensed trade that can never be outsourced. Smart guy.
Notice the cops asked to search the van. If the police ask to search your car or ask to come into your house and you acquiesce, you're giving up your right to privacy. When they ask, ask them "why"?
"In the old days (70s) cops would have put in on their tongues to see if it were the real thing."
Yeah ok then let them get nailed on a NYPD drug test. That's a good idea!"
On their TONGUES? - you not too street smart either I see . . .
Actually, it's true. In the past they do put a tiny finger on the sample and place it on their tongues to determine, and then spit it out.
"Actually, it's true. In the past they do put a tiny finger on the sample and place it on their tongues to determine, and then spit it out."
Absolutely - one tiny bit on the tongue tells you IMMEDIATELY what it is and without risk.
I'm sure sooner than later Bloomberg will impose a sugar tax, and they'll be back at the police station again.
Two million dollars because a cop mistook a white substance in unmarked plastic wrappers for drugs? Is there anyone out there that won't try to get rich off of a mistake? I personally applaud the two cops, because had it been crack and it was sold to any of the kids of you people bitching, you would be saying the cops don't do enough. What a shitty job, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Jose Dolores Pena is a con artist. I know because he conned me. He never went thorugh with the 2million dollars out of fear someone would look into his past.
He setteled for 70,000.00 and after borrowing money from people with the promise of paying back from his lawsuit, turns out hte class A citizen, owe child support for 2 of his 13 kids, and taxes.
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