While protests in New York City over the grand jury's decision not to indict a white NYPD officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner continue to gather momentum, it has been revealed that a different jury has gone ahead and indicted 22-year-old Ramsey Orta, the man who was responsible for capturing Garner's death on camera.
Less than one month after filming 29-year-old officer Daniel Pantaleo grab unarmed Garner and fatally hold him in a banned chokehold maneuver during an arrest in July, Orta was charged with weapon possession on Wednesday.
But according to an SILive.com report, Orta told the Staten Island court that his charges were framed by police in retaliation for capturing Garner's death on video, The Huffington Post reported.
"When they searched me, they didn't find nothing on me," Orta said after his arrest. "And the same cop that searched me, he told me clearly himself, that karma's a bitch, what goes around comes around. I had nothing to do with this. I would be stupid to walk around with a gun after me being in the spotlight."
On July 17, police, at the request of local "minority business owners," went to a location where Garner was known for selling cigarettes, UK MailOnline reported. In a widely-circulated video, Pantaleo can be seen holding Garner's neck in an apparent chokehold as the man repeatedly says, "I can't breathe."
In August, Orta was arrested for hiding an unloaded .25 caliber handgun in the waistband of 17-year-old Alba Lekaj outside of the Hotel Richmond, according to police records.
On Wednesday, Orta was indicted with single felony counts of third-degree criminal weapon possession and criminal firearm possession, The Wrap reported. Currently, he has two other cases pending -- one for accused robbery and the other for allegedly punching a man collecting bottles outside of his home.
His wife, who was also arrested for an alleged assault incident less than a week after Orta's arrest, claims the charges against her husband are "total BS."
"I'm just worried about my husband and getting out the truth and making sure justice is served for Eric Garner and my husband," Chrissie Ortiz said.
