EAST HAVEN Ct. Detective Robert Ranfone, who was charged earlier this month with two felonies and a misdemeanor in connection with a used car scam, has filed paperwork to retire with a disability, police sources said.
Ranfone, 47, a longtime East Haven police officer who was the president of the police union, had already been suspended with pay for several months as a result of an unrelated January incident in which he was accused of acting unconstitutionally while investigating a purse snatching. He filed his retirement papers late last week, sources said.
Ranfone turned himself in to state Department of Motor Vehicles police and was arrested on Oct. 3 in connection with an incident involving a sports car that a New Haven used car dealer allegedly sold to two different people. Ranfone turned himself in on an arrest warrant, according to East Haven police Lt. David Emerman.
Ranfone was charged with interfering with an officer, second-degree hindering prosecution, and tampering with evidence for allegedly helping the second purchaser and ultimate recipient of the vehicle conceal it for a period of time, according to a copy of the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the New Haven Register.
The case revolves around a 2009 Chevrolet Corvette sold — allegedly twice — by Brian Page, who at the time was owner of the now-closed Lucky Sevens Auto Dealership in New Haven, according to the affidavit.
It also involves another car, a 2008 Lexus, for which a loan and insurance policy were generated, but which the listed owner — who also was the original buyer of the Corvette — told police he never bought, took out a loan for or insured, the affidavit says.