Police recover ghost gun, arrest three people

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Police arrested three people on Sunday for possession of an illegal, unregistered weapon and tampering with evidence. Police say Marcus Cardona, 41, of the Bronx, assaulted a woman with a gun at the Econo Lodge Inn and Suites on Central Avenue before handing the ghost gun to another woman at the Motel 6 on Central Avenue.

Cardona went to the Motel 6 after the attack, where he had rented several rooms in his name, according to police. Surveillance video showed Cardona handing a black fanny pack containing the gun to Destiny Ruiz, 22, of Schenectady before his arrest.

Police discovered the room Ruiz and Dennis Carter, 42, of Schenectady, were staying in while they searched for the weapon. When police ordered Ruiz and Carter to leave the room, another officer's body camera captured the black fanny pack thrown out of a window in the room.

Charges

• Marc Cardona
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
  • Two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree
  • Criminal Possession of a Firearm
  • Tampering with physical evidence
  • Second degree threatening
  • Second degree harassment
• Dennis Carter
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
  • Two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree
  • Criminal Possession of a Firearm
  • Tampering with physical evidence
• Destiny Ruiz
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree
  • Criminal Possession of a Firearm
  • Tampering with physical evidence

Officers recovered the weapon and Cardona, Ruiz and Carter were arrested and arraigned in Albany County Court. Cardona remains in the Albany County Jail, Ruiz was released on probation and Carter was released on his own recognizance.