ALBANY — A former state assemblyman from Brooklyn who is now an aide to Gov. Cuomo spent a night behind bars last month after a late-night arrest in Buffalo’s party district, the Daily News has learned.
Karim Camara, a pastor who heads Cuomo’s new Office of Faith-Based Development Services, was arrested at 1:35 a.m. July 11 and charged with misdemeanor trespassing and a disorderly conduct violation after police said he became belligerent at Jim’s Steakout sub shop.
Though the charges were ultimately dropped, Camara, who shop staff say was heavily intoxicated at the time, was forced to spend the night in a police holding cell.
Camara, who was previously arrested in 2007 on drunken driving charges, was hired in April by Cuomo for the newly created $150,000-a-year position after spending nearly a decade in the Legislature. He was in Buffalo to meet with religious leaders on state business, sources said.
Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said Camara alerted the administration about the arrest, but officials did not intervene.
Jim’s Steakout, where the incident occurred, is located on West Chippewa St. in Buffalo, which is lined with bars, clubs and restaurants.
“Anybody who comes in here after midnight is drunk,” said one of the shop’s managers, who only gave his first name, Devon.
Camara had finished eating when he began “making threats to the staff,” according to the Buffalo Police arrest report.
“Give me my food,” Camara demanded even though he had already eaten his sandwich and was holding the empty bag, the report says.
The staff asked him to leave, but he refused.
“The defendant was causing the staff and other patrons to be alarmed and annoyed,” the report states.
Police intervened, telling Camara he had to go. “I don’t have to leave, you can’t tell me to leave,” he responded, according to the arrest report.
When a cop persisted, Camara shot back: “I know my rights. You don’t have the authority.”
He was then arrested and placed in a cell until his arraignment later that day.
The store chose not to press charges because no one was physically assaulted, according to the Jim’s Steakout manager.
The case was ultimately dismissed by the court on July 21 and the record sealed.
“This was a regretful, unfortunate and — as demonstrated by the fact that everything was dismissed — overblown situation,” said Camara. “I’m glad it’s behind me.”
A Camara source said he the incident began after he finished his sandwich and put in order for another one despite being asked to leave. When he then asked where his food was, an argument ensued, the source said.
Sources say Camara, a pastor at Abundant Life church, was due to meet with a number of pastors hours after his arrest, but cancelled the meetings.
He was represented by top-flight Buffalo lawyer Vincent Doyle III, who normally handles commercial litigation and white-collar criminal cases.
Doyle, a one-time state Bar Association president, said Camara was referred to him by a friend. He said he was unaware of his client’s ties to the governor.
