Branford P.D.
A 55-year-old man, convicted in the past of committing larceny in Branford, was arrested again by Branford police on Friday. He was charged in connection with a pre-dawn robbery of Motel 6 in June, Capt. Geoff Morgan reported.
The suspect, Richard Filipelli, 55, of 52 Short Beach Rd, East Haven, was arrested on an outstanding warrant in connection with the robbery, after three Branford officers viewed the video surveillance system at the motel and positively identified one of the suspects as Filipelli. Police are still searching for the second man.
Filipelli was charged with a low-level larceny, specifically larceny in the 6th degree, a class C misdemeanor. This statute applies to thefts of under$250 or less. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit robbery in the second degree, a felony offense.
Detective Lt. Art Kohloff said that when patrol officers arrived at the Motel 6 motel at 320 East Main St., they learned that two men had entered the motel, leaped over the counter and grabbed about $218 from the cash drawer. Then they fled. The motel is located just off exit 55 on I‑95.
Sgts. Phillip Ramey and John Alves and Officer Luigi Amasino viewed the motel video and were able to positively identify Filipelli as one of the suspects because they have had “numerous previous interactions with Filipelli,” Kohloff said. “We have been trying to apprehend him since June 17th; however, he has been able to elude us.”
Branford police last arrested Filipelli in October, 2010 on conspiracy to commit larceny, a felony. He pleaded guilty in 2011 and was sentenced to five years in jail, suspended after 9 months on April 24, 2012. Filipelli has also been arrested by East Haven and New Haven police over the past four years.
Filipelli was held this past weekend on $150,000 bond, pending arraignment in New Haven Superior Court on Elm Street today.
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