| Man Who Had Drug
Sentence Commuted Jan 17 2025 on
Trial For New Drug Sale Saying
NYPD Untrue
by
Matthew & Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
111 CENTRE
STREET,
April 27 – A man with a
previous Federal drug
conviction whose sentence was
commuted on January 17, 2025 -
three days before the change
of Administrations in
Washington - is on trial for
another alleged narcotics
offense. On April 27, Inner
City Press was
there.
Only
this time, the NYPD officer on
the stand didn't find the
drugs at the time, and only
afterward said he saw the
defendant, Shelby Hines, throw
"something small."
After the
direct examination, the
defense lawyer played him the
audio of his own body-cam
video. Direct: ADA: Officer
Jean-Baptiste, why couldn't
you handcuff him?
Jean-Baptiste:
My cuffs got caught in his
jacket. [Shaking bodycam video
of foot chase] ADA: Officer
can you orient us?
Jean-Baptiste:
That's Shelby trying to hide
under the van
[Now as
video depicts defendant being
cuffed, a woman stands up and
walks out of courtroom, says,
"This is what they do to
Black people.]
ADA: Now?
Jean-Baptiste: That's the van
toward which he did his
throwing motion. West 178
Street between Audubon and St.
Nicholas ADA: Had you seen the
defendant throwing
something?
Jean-Baptiste:
Honestly, from where we are
now, I can't answer that
question. [More video]
ADA: Now? Jean-Baptiste: It's
almost now, but you're not
going to see it on the camera-
Defense: Objection!
Sustained ADA: Explain
Jean-Baptiste: My
camera is on my torso, my head
is up hear. So it doesn't
catch everything that I see.
What he threw, it was small.
ADA: Did you get evidence
later?
Jean-Baptiste:
Package of narcotics from
Officer Perez. Vials of
crack. ADA: What were
they filled with?
Defense: Objection! Asked and
answered Justice: I'll allow
it
Jean-Baptiste:
The alleged crack cocaine, a
rocky substance. I've made
thousands of arrests. I
vouchered it. ADA: No further
questions. Justice: We can
start cross Defense: You
turned on your body-worn
camera on October 10, 2025?
Jean-Baptiste: Yes.
Defense: You
yelled, Let's get him into
your radio? Yes. Defense: He
dove behind a white van?
Yes. Defense: You didn't say
or yell that he threw
anything?
Jean-Baptiste:
No Defense: When you
arrested him there was a dog
there? Jean-Baptiste: I don't
know if there was an NYPD dog
there. Defense: Mr.
Hines was handcuffed? J-B: Not
yet. Defense: You testified
you saw him throw something
toward the building - you are
under oath
J-B:
Yes. Defense: Isn't it
true you never saw Shelby
throw anything? Jean-Baptiste:
I said I saw it. Defense:
Didn't you tell Officer Perez,
I didn't see him throw
nothing? J-B: You would have
to see my camera Defense: Play
it at 23:51:58 - you told
Officer Perez?
J-B:
No Defense: Play it at
point eight. [Played again -
at least one juror nods]
Jean-Baptiste: Play it again,
it's been a while. Defense:
Back to normal speed,
23:52:59. You are looking
around with a flashlight? J-B:
I am retracing my steps
Defense: Mr. Hines' steps
Justice
Jonathan Svetkey: Break for
day
* *
*
Three floors
down, Justice Ann D. Thompson
was genially presiding over
jury selection in another
trial, of a man who while
working for a tourist bus
company in Times Square was
allegedly involved in the
stabbing of one of a group of
teenagers who - also allegedly
- assaulted him.
The ADA
asked the prospective jurors
if they would hold it against
a witness that they had been
involved in illegal acts, and
if they would follow Justice
Thompson's instructions on
permissible use of
force.
One juror sure to
be excluded, who said her
profession is social media
about her home renovation,
said she wasn't sure she could
be fair. Another works right
next to the tour bus and
begged off. In the hallway,
many dozens of prospective
jurors unlikely to even be
called into the courtroom for
voir dire looked up from
laptops, none too happy. There
has to be a better way.
***
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