A January 11th vehicle pursuit ended with the arrest of Ramal B. Abdullah, age 45, of Brooklyn, NY. Around 10:50 PM, Abdullah was observed to be driving a 2006 Mercedes SUV with a suspended registration. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, Abdullah fled.
After a short pursuit, the vehicle drove into the parking area underneath the Ithaca Arthaus. Abdullah attempted to flee into the building before being apprehended.
Abdullah was found to be in possession of 32 bags of methamphetamine, 16 bags of heroin and $2,613 in cash.
Abdullah was charged with Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class A Misdemeanor), Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs (Unclassified Misdemeanor), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree – Methamphetamine/Intent (Class B Felony) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree – Heroin/Intent (Class B Felony).
Abdullah was arraigned and remanded to the county jail without bail.
Tompkins County Sherriff Derek Osborne credits the arrest to the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Program. GIVE is a statewide strategy created by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (NYSDCJS) to reduce gun violence and shootings in New York State.
GIVE was implemented by Tompkins County law enforcement & NYSDCJS in July of 2023 following a large increase in gun violence and shots fired calls.
In a statement, Osborne said that the number of shots fired calls has been reduced dramatically as a result of the GIVE program.
Osborne also credits GIVE for numerous arrests of known violent offenders and the recovery of 5 unlawfully possessed firearms during 2023.
Additionally, 134 grams of meth, 10 grams of heroin, 111 grams of cocaine and smaller amounts of hallucinogenic mushrooms, Fentanyl, Xanax & Oxycontin pills were seized during arrests connected to GIVE last year.