Error returning next value to be removed in array

How do I remove a value from an array by putting -1 in place, and return the next index that has a value to be removed? Since this function should already return a position that has a value to be removed, I would not need to either verify and only point to the next position that has a value. If the value is there, I remove it by putting -1 to indicate it is empty.

This function should remove the letter, and indicate the next empty index, but when I give a print it indicates positions that have -1.

int removeCard(int[] arrCards, int topPonteiro) { 
  if(arrCards[topPonteiro] != -1){
    arrCards[topPonteiro]=-1; 
    topPonteiro=(topPonteiro+1)%arrCards.length;    
  } 
  return topPonteiro;
}