PEOPLE v. JONES (2002)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (McGann, J.), rendered November 2, 2000, convicting him of jostling, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 Contrary to the defendant's contention, the police officer's testimony that the defendant followed several women, and stared at their pockets and pocketbooks before jostling the complainant, did not constitute evidence of uncharged crimes or prior bad acts (see People v. Davis, 251 A.D.2d 91, 674 N.Y.S.2d 645;  People v. Mateen, 227 A.D.2d 350, 642 N.Y.S.2d 899;  People v. Smith, 221 A.D.2d 251, 634 N.Y.S.2d 63).   In any event, assuming that this testimony could be considered evidence of prior bad acts, it was properly admitted to establish the officer's ability to see and identify the defendant as the perpetrator, and to complete the narrative of events surrounding the charged crimes (see People v. Gines, 36 N.Y.2d 932, 373 N.Y.S.2d 543, 335 N.E.2d 850;  People v. Molineux, 168 N.Y. 264, 293, 61 N.E. 286;  People v. Davis, supra;  People v. Mateen, supra;   People v. Grant, 197 A.D.2d 399, 602 N.Y.S.2d 140).