A defendant charged with possessing drugs said he was shocked and scared when he was arrested.

Michael Euguene Parsons has pleaded not guilty to handling $22,250 worth of the controlled drug cocaine in an increased penalty zone with the intent to supply on October 6, 2005.

Parsons is represented by defence lawyer Craig Attridge while Robert Welling is for the crown.

The crown alleges Parsons - a former DHL courier- dropped off a package containing cocaine at QuoVadis Ltd. addressed to someone who didn't work there and came back the next day to pick it up.

Parsons took the stand yesterday afternoon telling the jury on October 5, 2005, he delivered a packaged to QuoVadis Ltd.

He gave Kimya Talbot, the secretary for the company, the delivery sheet to sign for the package and told them if there were any problems to let him know.

The defendant said after he left QuoVadis, he completed his delivery route and went back to the office to complete his work.

He said when he got to the office, there was a problem with downloading the scanner. Parsons said some of the couriers assisted him but they couldn't fix the problem.

He saw the package for QuoVadis wasn't coming up on the scanner. He said he remembered Mr. Davidson inquiring about payment for the package and that could have been the problem.

The defendant told the jury his boss told him to take out his scanner and let others do their work and he could fix it later. He said he left his office soon after and went to football training at Victor Scott Primary School field.

After training, Parsons said he reached his house at about 9.30 and that was the last time he remembers seeing his cell phone.

He said he was at a neighbour's home when the alleged phone call to New Jersey was made.

The next day, he says he called QuoVadis and asked if he could come in to inquire about the account number on the package he had delivered the day before.

He walked from the DHL office on Church Street to QuoVadis in Washington Mall. He said he cut through the City Hall parking lot and through the back of the mall.

He said when he got to QuoVadis, he walked over to Mr. Davidson.

"I said I spoke to a man on the phone regarding a DHL package and account number. Mr. Davidson said the package had gone to another company, Hartford or something."

"I said OK, cut a piece of paper and wrote DHL and the main number. I told him he can contact anyone in the office either a manager or myself."

Earlier in the trial, both Mr. Davidson and Mr. Cook told the court Parsons appeared nervous. He denied that claim.

"I was out of breath from running from my job. I wasn't nervous like how Mr. Cook said I was shaking and stuff."

Parsons said when he got back to his job, he was helping out back unloading packages when a call came for him. The caller told him the package was back at QuoVadis and ready to be picked up.

Parsons said Ms Talbot handed him the package and he went back to look at the account number and to see whether or not there was a COD on the package.

"As I was about to look for the information, Officer Thorpe came behind me and took my right arm. Another officer came in front of me and they arrested me.

"First when Detective Thorpe gripped me, he said 'What are you doing?' I said, 'I'm just doing my job'. In my job, I'm not used to anyone gripping me."

"I recall Detective Thorpe asking who sent you for this package and I replied Zina DeRosa."

He told the court Ms DeRosa had not sent him for the package.

"At the time, I was shocked. I was scared. I didn't have a clue what was going on. It is true that I said that."

"My mind was all over the place. I was like why did you arrest me? What have I done wrong? I was in that frame of mine. It wasn't a good day."

The trial continues.