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9 arrested for making threats against New York City police

Authorities said nine people have been arrested in connection to threats made to the New York City police after the ambush shooting deaths of two officers.

By Amy R. Connolly
Elvin Payamps was arrested on charges that include criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Police found guns, bullet-proof vests and brass knuckles in his home. Photo courtesy New York City Police Department
Elvin Payamps was arrested on charges that include criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Police found guns, bullet-proof vests and brass knuckles in his home. Photo courtesy New York City Police Department

NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Nine men have been arrested in connection to police death threats after two officers were killed in an ambush shooting last week. Officials said they have investigated dozens of threats since the shooting deaths of officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu.

The latest arrest came Friday after a witness told police he overheard a man on a cellphone threatening violence against law enforcement. Elvin Payamps was arrested on charges that include criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Police said they found two bullet-proof vests, brass knuckles and a holster in the man's Queens house.

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Police posted heavily armed guards outside station houses that were targets of some of the specific threats. Officials have been scouring social media and asking the public to continue to report any suspicious activity.

"All threats against members of the NYPD are taken seriously and are investigated immediately to determine the credibility and origin of the information," authorities said.

Many of the threats echo those posted on social media by gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who killed Ramos and Liu on Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car. Of those arrested, two are Brooklyn teens who were charged with making terroristic threats on Facebook.

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