NORWICH – The case against a Syracuse man indicted in April on multiple felony drug charges may be one step closer to trial following a preliminary hearing Monday in Chenango County Court.
Edrick L. Rouse, 34, Syracuse, is charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony, fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony, and fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony.
According to the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office, Rouse, on March 9, at the Norwich Motor Lodge, did knowingly and unlawfully possess five plastic baggies of crack-cocaine, with an aggregate weight of 4.47 grams, with the intent to sell.
Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Detective Gary A. Miller was the only witness to take the stand for the prosecution during Monday’s Huntley hearing, defined by USLegal.com as a “pretrial hearing in New York State ... requested for the purpose of reviewing the manner in which the police obtained statements from the defendant.”
During the course of his testimony, Miller described the events of that day, when he and fellow detective John Fern investigated what they suspected was illegal narcotic activity at the motel. According to Miller, he and Fern approached one of the motel’s rooms and knocked on the door, which was opened by Rouse. The two were given permission to search the room, subsequently discovering the crack-cocaine.
Rouse was taken to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office where he was questioned further, allegedly agreeing to an interview and admitting he willingly allowed the detectives to enter the motel room; had travelled to the Norwich area from Syracuse to sell drugs; and was expecting a crack shipment at some point during his stay.
Public Defender John Cameron, during his cross examination, noted that the detectives had “no probably cause” for the search and called it “a bit of a fishing expedition.”
District Attorney Joseph McBride, however, called it “an open and shut case.”
