News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Police Mistaken, Accused Dealer Says |
| Title: | CN ON: Police Mistaken, Accused Dealer Says |
| Published On: | 2006-02-04 |
| Source: | Windsor Star (CN ON) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-18 21:17:40 |
POLICE MISTAKEN, ACCUSED DEALER SAYS
Drug Trafficking Suspect Testifies He Was Unaware of Marijuana In
Vehicle
An accused marijuana trafficker took the witness stand Friday,
testifying undercover officers misinterpreted what they said was a
drug transaction in a South Windsor grocery store parking lot.
Kevin Thanh Nguyen said he went to the parking lot of the former Zehrs
store at Dougall Avenue and West Grand Boulevard after receiving a
phone call from a friend of his ex-wife.
He met the woman to retrieve two outfits and a backpack his ex-wife
had purchased for their eight-year-old daughter.
"I went there to pick up the gift," said Nguyen, speaking through a
Vietnamese interpreter.
Nguyen, 35, is charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking and trafficking marijuana. He was arrested Jan. 21, 2004
by undercover police officers who had been watching a Michigan-plated,
black BMW SUV.
Police testified they watched Nguyen's red Toyota Camry enter the
Zehrs parking lot and pull in beside the BMW.
They said Nguyen took a garbage bag out of the trunk of his car and
placed it in the rear passenger area of the BMW.
Bag of Marijuana
After arresting the occupants of the BMW, police found the garbage bag
contained seven half-pound bags of marijuana. If sold by the gram, the
3 1/2 pounds of marijuana had a street value of $32,300, according to
police.
But Nguyen testified police had the transaction backward.
He said he took a garbage bag out of the back of the BMW and placed it
in his trunk. He said the garbage bag he took contained the gifts for
his daughter.
He denied any knowledge of marijuana in the BMW.
Nguyen said police seized $1,400 from his wallet. One officer
testified he saw Nguyen pocket the money after someone in the front
seat of the BMW handed it to him.
But Nguyen testified the money came from a $1,600 insurance cheque he
had cashed at a nail shop earlier in the day. He explained that with
it being the Vietnamese New Year, he was planning to give cash gifts
to children, go to the casino to gamble and go out to eat.
The trial continues Monday before a Superior Court jury.
Drug Trafficking Suspect Testifies He Was Unaware of Marijuana In
Vehicle
An accused marijuana trafficker took the witness stand Friday,
testifying undercover officers misinterpreted what they said was a
drug transaction in a South Windsor grocery store parking lot.
Kevin Thanh Nguyen said he went to the parking lot of the former Zehrs
store at Dougall Avenue and West Grand Boulevard after receiving a
phone call from a friend of his ex-wife.
He met the woman to retrieve two outfits and a backpack his ex-wife
had purchased for their eight-year-old daughter.
"I went there to pick up the gift," said Nguyen, speaking through a
Vietnamese interpreter.
Nguyen, 35, is charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking and trafficking marijuana. He was arrested Jan. 21, 2004
by undercover police officers who had been watching a Michigan-plated,
black BMW SUV.
Police testified they watched Nguyen's red Toyota Camry enter the
Zehrs parking lot and pull in beside the BMW.
They said Nguyen took a garbage bag out of the trunk of his car and
placed it in the rear passenger area of the BMW.
Bag of Marijuana
After arresting the occupants of the BMW, police found the garbage bag
contained seven half-pound bags of marijuana. If sold by the gram, the
3 1/2 pounds of marijuana had a street value of $32,300, according to
police.
But Nguyen testified police had the transaction backward.
He said he took a garbage bag out of the back of the BMW and placed it
in his trunk. He said the garbage bag he took contained the gifts for
his daughter.
He denied any knowledge of marijuana in the BMW.
Nguyen said police seized $1,400 from his wallet. One officer
testified he saw Nguyen pocket the money after someone in the front
seat of the BMW handed it to him.
But Nguyen testified the money came from a $1,600 insurance cheque he
had cashed at a nail shop earlier in the day. He explained that with
it being the Vietnamese New Year, he was planning to give cash gifts
to children, go to the casino to gamble and go out to eat.
The trial continues Monday before a Superior Court jury.
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