PEOPLE v. BLOCKER (2001)

 On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 220.09[1] ), defendant contends that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence.   We disagree.   According to defendant, the police “ planted” the drugs at issue on him, while an officer testified that the drugs dropped from defendant while he was being booked.   It is well settled that issues of credibility are best determined by the jury, given its opportunity to observe the demeanor of the witnesses (see, People v. Knapp, 272 A.D.2d 637, 638-639, 706 N.Y.S.2d 531;  see also, People v. Beltran, 281 A.D.2d 934, 722 N.Y.S.2d 853 [decided herewith] ).   It cannot be said that the jury failed to give the evidence the weight it should be accorded (see, People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).

Judgment unanimously affirmed.

MEMORANDUM: