The bystander who captured the fatal arrest of Eric Garner on his cell phone video, was himself arrested Saturday (Aug. 2) on charges of weapon possession, according to authorities.
Silive.com reports that 22-year-old Ramsey Orta and a teenage woman, identified by police as Alba Lekaj, were cuffed just before 10 p.m., in Long Island in front of 61 Central Ave., after leaving the Hotel Richmond. An NYPD spokeswoman told SIlive that Orta and Ms. Lekaj were observed entering the hotel and exiting moments later. The Hotel Richmond, the spokeswoman added, is located in an area known for drug activity.
As officers from the 120th Precinct Narcotics Unit approached the pair, they observed Orta put an object in Lekaj’s waistband, the spokeswoman added. The object was identified as a loaded .25 caliber handgun that had been reported stolen in Michigan in 2007.
In addition to the handgun, the spokeswoman noted that officers found marijuana on Lekaj, who police say, faces marijuana possession charges. Orta and Lekaj were charged with criminal possession of a loaded weapon, authorities added.
A source with knowledge of the investigation told SIlive that Orton, who has three other criminal cases pending, according to online court records, is likely to be arraigned today.
Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
(Video Source: YouTube)
