A suspected drug dealer at times seemed unable to grasp that he was the defendant — not the attorney — during his preliminary hearing Monday.

“I object,” 40-year-old Hasan Shareef stated several times from the defense table as a trooper testified against him at District Judge William Fullerton’s courtroom in Butler.

When he wasn’t objecting, Shareef, originally from New York, was continually asking the judge for the chance to pose questions of the officer, despite being seated next to his own private attorney.

Following the repeated disruptions, and after trying to set the suspect straight on courtroom decorum, Fullerton ordered Shareef held for trial on felony drug and weapons charges.

State police by chance May 27 arrested Shareef at a home in the 1000 block of East Jefferson Street in Butler, where they were serving a search warrant for an unrelated burglary.

The defendant, whose family is from Yonkers, N.Y., apparently had been staying at the house, which was being occupied by a woman, authorities said.

Trooper Brian Palko testified at the hearing that while he and other officers were initially inside they were unaware that anyone was there until hearing noises coming from the attic.

“I heard the sound of breaking glass,” he said,

When he made his way upstairs, Palko said, he spotted a handgun at the top of the steps. Then he spotted a second pistol, as well as Shareef.

Police conducted a pat-down search of the suspect, the only person in the house at the time, and found him carrying $2,570.

On the floor of the attic, Palko testified, police noticed what looked like an empty stamp bag of heroin and two cell phones.

“I object,” Shareef said, catching the entire courtroom, including his attorney, Jennifer Jackson of Pittsburgh, by surprise.

Fullerton was quick to chide the defendant for his bad manners.

“You have an attorney here to speak on your behalf,” the judge told Shareef. “If you have any question, consult with her in private.”

Palko resumed his testimony, recounting that after finding evidence of suspected drug dealing, police obtained another search warrant. The second warrant allowed officers to look through the home for any evidence to suggest drug trafficking there.

The secondary search turned up “a slew of money, drugs and paraphernalia,” Palko told prosecutor Mark Lope, a county assistant district attorney

The contraband and currency was found in a black leather bag belonging to Shareef.

Palko listed the items police seized: 407 stamp bags of suspected heroin, five bags of powder cocaine, seven bags of crack cocaine, 14 opened suboxone strips and prescription pills, a digital scale, handgun and $5,957.

The alleged heroin and cocaine tested positive in a preliminary test, he said. Police still are awaiting the results of lab tests by state crime technicians.

While Palko discussed Shareef’s extensive criminal record, which prohibits him under state law from having guns, the defendant again spoke out, “I object.”

Specifically, he interrupted when the officer noted his felony convictions in five states.

When Palko referenced the suspect’s most recent felony conviction in Pennsylvania, stemming from a 2005 drug case, Shareef objected one more time. Moments later, he voiced another objection.

During his attorney’s cross-examination, the defendant continued to act up. Instead of objecting, however, he tried to directly ask questions of Palko.

Jackson appeared visibly exasperated by her client’s behavior as she tried to question the officer.

“May I ask some questions?” Shareef blurted out. “I’ll ask the questions,” Jackson told him.

But a minute or two later, the defendant again spoke out. “Can I ask one more question?”

“No,” Fullerton answered.

Still, Shareef persisted up until the end of Palko’s testimony. “Your honor, I want to ask him one more question,” he said.

“We’re concluded here, Mr. Shareef,” the judge replied.

Fullerton ordered the defendant held for court on felony charges of drug trafficking, drug possession and illegal firearms possession. He was later returned to Butler County Prison where he’s been held on $750,000 bail since his arrest.

But even as he was being led out of the courtroom door, the handcuffed Shareef yelled one more time, “Your honor, can I ask a question?”