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Earlier this summer New York State Governor Kathy Hochul implemented a mask ban after masked pro-Palestine protestors began harassing people in public around New York City and after doing so other cities and counties followed suit which led to this week’s first arrest under the controversial mask ban law.
According to The New York Times, 18-year-old Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo was booked this past Sunday (Aug. 25) after police say he was spotted walking alone and masked down Spindle Road in Hicksville, Long Island. Though he wasn’t engaged in any protest or bothering anyone in his proximity, he ran afoul of Nassau County’s recent Mask Transparency Act which was passed earlier this month to combat antisemitic incidents which have risen in recent months over the protests over the conflict in Palestine.
Though wearing a mask is a misdemeanor offense, a search of Castillo uncovered a bigger problem for the 18-year-old.
The New York Times reports:
When police officers arrived, they frisked Mr. Castillo and discovered a 14-inch knife in the waistband of his pants, the department said in a statement on Tuesday. He was charged on Monday with several crimes, including criminal possession of a weapon and a violation of the mask law.
“Our police officers were able to use the mask ban legislation as well as other factors to stop and interrogate an individual who was carrying a weapon with the intent to engage in a robbery,” Mr. Blakeman said in a statement. “Passing this law gave police another tool to stop this dangerous criminal.”
Scott Banks, the chief attorney of the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, said Legal Aid was representing Mr. Castillo. Mr. Banks declined to comment on the case.
Castillo played himself both wearing a ski mask (in August) and having a deadly weapon. Everyone knows that you either have one or the other when walking the streets because people will assume that if you’re wearing a mask (especially in the summer) you might have something else on you. In this case they were right. SMH.
But how man stop and frisks turn up nothing, though?
Though there are exceptions for wearing a mask in public (religious or health-related reasons), anyone else could be subject to a fine of $1,000, a year in prison or both.
