Levittown, NY – In a historic first under Nassau County’s newly enacted Mask Transparency Act, an 18-year-old Hicksville man was arrested Sunday evening after police responded to reports of a suspicious individual walking along Spindle Road in Levittown. The man, Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo, was reportedly dressed in black and wearing a mask that concealed his identity.
Officers from the Eighth Squad arrived at the scene around 7:54 p.m. and observed Ramirez Castillo acting suspiciously. During the investigation, police discovered a 14-inch knife hidden in his waistband. Despite refusing to comply with officers’ commands, he was taken into custody without further incident.
Ramirez Castillo faces charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, and a violation of the Nassau County Local Law 1-2024 Title 90-Mask Transparency Act. This arrest marks the first enforcement of the mask ban, which is the first of its kind in the United States.
The Mask Transparency Act, signed into law earlier this month by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, criminalizes wearing a mask or face covering to hide one’s identity, except for health or religious reasons. The legislation has sparked controversy, with opponents arguing it infringes on civil liberties. Despite the pushback, Nassau County legislators cited public safety concerns and recent protests as justification for the law.
Ramirez Castillo was arraigned on Monday, August 26, 2024, at First District Court in Hempstead. If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine under the new mask law, along with additional penalties for the weapons charge.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Photos: NCPD.
