Tuesday arrest in Sunnyside follows gun wielding incident

Cesar Ortiz Farias, 21, of Sunnyside was arrested Tuesday afternoon after he attempted to flee police by ditching his car at an office building on Ninth Street in Sunnyside.

Police were called at about 12:15 p.m. after witnesses allegedly saw Farias pull a gun on a man at the intersection of Ninth Street and Harrison Avenue, according to Sunnyside Police Captain Phil Schenck.

Schenck said that witnesses saw a man in his early 20s, wearing red sweatpants and no shirt, get out of a gray Chevrolet Cavalier, argue with an older man, who was driving a red Geo Prism, but had stopped in the road and was flagging him down.

During the argument the younger man, who was later identified as Farias, went to his vehicle and pulled out what witnesses said appeared to be a gun and held it behind his back. The argument was due to two female passengers that Farias had in his vehicle, said Schenck. The other man reportedly didn't want Farias to leave with the two women, said Schenck.

When the suspects heard police sirens they fled the scene.

City employees witnessed the gray Cavalier drive into the parking lot of the office building located in the 500 block of South Ninth Street. One suspect attempted to flee the vehicle, but police found her in the hospital.

Farias and the other unidentified female passenger were taken into custody. The vehicle Farias fled in was towed away from the scene.

Police were able to obtain a search warrant for the vehicle. Officers found a 10-inch knife between the driver and passenger seats in the front of the car. Marijuana seeds were found in the ash tray of the car and a marijuana pipe was also found. Police did not find a gun.

Farias was arrested and is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended first degree and an outstanding arrest warrant. No other charges have been filed at this time.



Please read our commenting policy before posting.



Sign in to comment