On February 6th, 2024, at 11:11 AM, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a 2001 White Dodge Durango on N. Cayuga Street in the City of Ithaca after observing the vehicle operating without a visible inspection sticker and operating without insurance. During the roadside conservation with the occupants, the deputy recognized the female passenger as Kimberly Makinster, age 37 of Ithaca NY. At the time of the stop, Makinster held an active warrant for her arrest through Tompkins County Superior Court for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree through the Sheriff's Office.
A subsequent vehicle search resulted in approximately 7 grams of suspected cocaine, a 100-round box of .357 ammunition and a 50-round box of .38 special ammunition all of which were seized and collected as evidence. At the conclusion of this investigation, the driver, Damien D. Blackman, age 44, of Ithaca was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (Class A Misdemeanor) and Makinster was arrested on her warrants and turned over to Centralized Arraignment Court.
The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office was assisted by members of the Ithaca Police Department and this case is still under investigation and additional charges may follow.