Around 3 in the morning on Saturday, August 12th, an officer from the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle that went through a red light at the intersection of Madison Street and Route 281 in the Town of Cortlandville. As the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the operator of the vehicle failed to comply.
As the operator of the vehicle continued to flee from police, he failed to negotiate a turn from Luker Road to Mclean Road and crashed into a fence on Mclean Road.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 40 year old Omar J. Punter of Ithaca, was not injured during the crash and was taken into custody.
As officers continued their investigation, they were able to determine Punter to be driving while intoxicated and found him to be in possession of a loaded handgun, cocaine and a digital scale.
Punter is facing charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd, Tampering with Evidence, both Felonies, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th, Criminally Use Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd, Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer, Obstructing Governmental Administration in the 2nd, DWI, Reckless Driving, all Misdemeanors. As well as numerous vehicle and traffic infractions.
He was transported to the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office for processing and was later arraigned on the charges above and remanded to the Cortland County Jail on no bail.
His next court appearance in Cortlandville Town Court is scheduled for today.
