Victim Drives Over Branford Man's Foot as He Tries To Rob Her at ATM: Police

BRANFORD, CT — A Branford man implied he had a gun when he tried to rob a woman making a business deposit at a drive-through ATM machine early Tuesday, and he was injured when she ran over his foot as she drove off, police said in a news release.

Police also say the woman had completed the deposit before the attempted robbery occurred. The man allegedly reached into the victim's car, reaching for her pocketbook, and then she drove away and apparently ran over the suspect's foot, police said.

Branford police responded to the drive-through ATM machine located at 1 South Main St. just after 1 a.m. this morning after a woman call 911 and reported that a man tried to rob her as she was making a nightly business deposit, police said.

When police arrived they located Anthony Gambardella, 60, of Harrison Avenue, lying on the pavement just in front of the ATM, police said. He complained that his left foot had been run over by the victim’s vehicle, police said.

Officer Bryan McGinnis, who investigated the incident, learned that the victim had just completed a nightly work deposit into the ATM from her vehicle when Gambardella appeared at her driver's side window, police said.

Gambardella ordered the victim to give him money, told her that he was in possession of a gun and would shoot her if she did not comply with his request, police said.

The victim informed Gambardella that she no longer had money, as it had just been deposited, police said. She said Gambardella reached into his pants pocket and again said he would shoot her, police said.

Gambardella then proceeded to reach into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, grabbed at the steering wheel and attempted to reach across to the front passenger seat where the victim’s pocketbook was located, police said. At that point, the victim drove off and immediately contacted police, police said. Police were unable to locate a gun.

Gambardella was treated by Branford Fire Department Paramedics and transported to an area medical facility for foot injuries.

Gambardella was later charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree threatening, breach of peace and criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny. He is being held on a $25,000 bond.

Photo via the Branford Police Department