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Man Who Filmed Eric Garner's Killing Is Being Released From Jail

Ramsey Orta, the man who filmed the killing of Eric Garner on his cellphone, has been released from jail thanks to crowdfunded bail.

Ramsey Orta, the man who filmed Eric Garner's death is being released from jail Friday thanks to crowdfunded bail and after pushback from the Staten Island District Attorney's Office, who called for a hearing to approve the signatures of his fund's donors.
"The bail bond has been signed by the Court. As soon as Rikers processes, he will be released," Orta's attorney tweeted Friday afternoon.

On July 17, Orta's life changed forever when he captured NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo holding Garner in an illegal choke hold that killed the 43-year-old in Staten Island on his cellphone camera. The video of Garner's last moments was seen around the world on the news and shared on social media.

Orta's courage did not end well for him. He was arrested for a gun charge and later a drug charge that was unrelated to Garner's incident a day after Garner's death was ruled a homicide. Orta has been locked up in New York City's Riker's Island since and his bail was set at $16,000.

The family raised more than $47,000 through a GoFundMe campaign in order to post money for his release. The family wanted to bring him home as they feared for his safety. Orta was on a hunger strike after rat poison was found in several inmates' food. 

Up until Friday afternoon, his freedom was uncertain, since a Staten Island District Attorney's Office requested a hearing calling for donations to be reviewed for illegal sources, PIX11 reports.

Orta was scheduled to go before a judge Friday afternoon, but the District Attorney's Office withdrew their objection to his bail.

Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege_.
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(Photo: Pix 11, NY York Local News)

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