Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo of Hicksville has become the first person in Nassau County to face charges under the mask ban recently approved by the Nassau County Legislature.
Castillo, 18, was arrested on Sunday and charged with possessing a 14-inch butcher’s knife and wearing a face mask in public.
Nassau County police said they were sent to respond to reports of a “suspicious male” walking eastbound on Spindle Road in Levittown.”
“Eight o’clock at night, wearing a ski mask on an 80-degree night is suspicious in itself,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Pat Ryder said at a press conference following the arrest. “So automatically, the police responded.”
Police said Castillo “continued to display suspicious behavior while attempting to conceal a large bulge in his waistband,” which was discovered to be a 14” knife.
Castillo, who was “dressed in black and wearing a mask to conceal his identity” refused to comply with officers commands as he was placed under arrest, the police said.
The arrest did not fit the circumstances cited when the Legislature voted along party lines to approve the ban.
The push to ban masks in some public settings began in June after some pro-Palestinian demonstrators covered their faces during protests at Columbia University.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he was forced to dismiss 31 of the 46 cases against protesters who occupied Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall in April, partly because the protesters were wearing masks and could not be identified.
But Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who championed the mask ban, touted the arrest.
“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,” Blakeman said in a press release. “Passing this law gave police another tool to stop this dangerous criminal.”
Castillo was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, obstructing governmental administration, and being in violation of Nassau County Local Law 1-2024, also known as the Title 90-Mask Transparency Act.
The ban makes it a misdemeanor to wear a mask to hide one’s identity. Exceptions are made for those wearing masks for health or religious purposes. Violation of the mask ban is punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
Ryder said Ramirez-Castillo wearing a mask brought the level of suspicion to reasonable, which allows police officers to detain someone if they believe a crime may have been, is being, or will be committed.
Ryder said suspicion was raised even more when the officers noticed a bulge on his waist as they were interviewing him. The police then patted down Ramirez-Castillo and found a 14-inch, butcher-style knife.
After being detained, Ramirez-Castillo said ‘they’ told him to wear a mask and carry the knife. Ryder said he doesn’t know who ‘they’ are, but due to Ramirez-Castillo alleged gang ties, there is now “more reason for a further investigation.”
“He was born in Guatemala,” Ryder said about Ramirez-Castillo. “He entered the country illegally in 2019 over in Texas. ICE has been notified
Blakeman said the mask ban that the Legislature signed is “another tool in the toolbox for the police department.” He said someone could have been stabbed by Ramirez-Castillo.
He credited Republican Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip for introducing the mass ban legislation.
“As a result of her efforts, we were able to stop what could have been a very serious crime,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman said to protect Nassau County even better, he believes there should be “common sense laws” to protect local communities. This involves revisiting the cashless bail.
“If someone is out wearing a mask, and they’ve got a butcher knife that’s 14 inches long, and they may have gang affiliations, our judges have to have the ability to hold these people,” Blakeman said.
Opponents of the ban maintain that it will infringe on the privacy and rights of individuals with disabilities and could be more harshly applied in communities of color.
A suit was recently filed in federal court by advocacy group saying the ban discriminated against people with disabilities.
Castillo was arraigned on Monday.
