By Ryan Seals
News & Record
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A member of the Latin Kings was arrested during a traffic stop Saturday morning after police said they found two firearms and more than 90 rounds of ammunition in a vehicle he was riding in.
Wesley Anderson Williams, 17, of 1309 Kirkman St. - who police say is a member of the Latin Kings - and another man, 20-year-old Richard Lee Robinson of Winston-Salem, were arrested following a 4:30 a.m. traffic stop.
Attempts to reach Williams and Robinson were unsuccessful Thursday.
According to police, a patrol officer stopped Robinson, who was driving a rented 2010 Dodge Caravan with Florida tags, after he ran a stop sign in the 1700 block of Freeman Mill Road near West Florida Street.
According to police and court documents, officers spotted a 12-gauge shotgun inside the vehicle. A search uncovered an SKS assault rifle with more than 90 rounds of ammunition.
Williams and Robinson were charged with carrying a concealed weapon. Anderson was released from jail after posting a $500 bond. Robinson was released on a written promise to appear in court.
Police said Robinson is not a known member of the gang.
Chief Tim Bellamy said paperwork in the vehicle indicated it was rented by Latin Kings leader Jorge Cornell. The incident remains under investigation.
Cornell and members of the Greensboro Pulpit Forum have repeatedly accused the police department of harassing the gang over the past three years.
They also have accused the department of racism and filing bogus charges against gang members - many of which didn’t stand up in court.
Cornell, who ran unsuccessfully for the Greensboro City Council last year, has called for the dismantling of the police department’s gang unit, which he claimed has tried to prevent his goal of creating gang peace throughout the city.
The traffic stop arrests also come two weeks after Cornell was found guilty in Guilford County District Court of resisting a public officer following an arrest last summer.
Cornell was arrested Aug. 1 after police said he prevented an officer from interviewing members of his gang, who were being questioned about throwing gang signs during a downtown event.
The gang leader accused the police department of arresting him because of his run for public office.
A judge found Cornell guilty April 15 and sentenced him to six months of probation. He has appealed the case to Superior Court.
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