On Thursday, Ithaca police arrested three individuals following a traffic stop that led to the recovery of a significant quantity of narcotics.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., members of a joint GIVE Detail conducted a stop near the 800 block of West Buffalo Street. The detail included officers from the Ithaca Police Department, New York State Parole, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police.
During the investigation, authorities allegedly seized over 50 grams of methamphetamine, packaging materials, a digital scale, and an undisclosed amount of cash. A small child was present in the vehicle at the time of the stop and was subsequently turned over to an uninvolved family member.
As a result of the seizure, 43-year-old Omar Punter, 35-year-old Christopher Wright, and 29-year-old Destynie Wilkinson, all of Ithaca, were taken into custody. Each defendant faces two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Wilkinson was additionally charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
All three individuals were arraigned in Ithaca City Court. Punter and Wright were remanded to the Tompkins County Jail, while Wilkinson was released under the supervision of probation.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
