A routine vehicle stop in Ithaca on June 26 led to a major drug arrest and the discovery of an outstanding warrant, according to city police.
Police say the stop occurred around 9 p.m. on North Titus Avenue near South Cayuga Street. Officers from the Ithaca Police Department and New York State Police were conducting a Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) detail when they pulled over the vehicle.
Authorities identified the driver as Albert Carthen, 45, of Ithaca. He was allegedly operating the vehicle with a suspended license. During an inventory of the car before towing, officers discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Carthen was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, one count in the third degree, and one in the fifth degree. He also faces charges for criminally using drug paraphernalia and aggravated unlicensed operation.
Judge Richard Wallace of Ithaca City Court arraigned Carthen, who was then remanded to the Tompkins County Jail with no bail.
The vehicle’s passenger, Michael Gilmore, 31, also of Ithaca, was found to have an active violation of probation warrant from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office. He was turned over to deputies at the scene.
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