EAST HAVEN, CT — Last Friday, members of the East Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division, working alongside the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force, apprehended Ryan Carafeno, 31, of East Haven, who was wanted on numerous outstanding arrest warrants stemming from incidents throughout Connecticut, according to police spokesperson Capt. Joseph M. Murgo.
According to Murgo, Carafeno had been identified as a suspect in several retail theft investigations involving businesses in East Haven and surrounding communities.
"Through ongoing investigative efforts and information shared between law enforcement agencies, detectives and patrol officers developed information regarding a vehicle believed to have been used in connection with several of these incidents," he said.
Friday afternoon around 2:30 p.m., investigators conducting surveillance in the New Haven area located a black Acura Integra parked at the McDonald's restaurant at 255 Foxon Boulevard, Murgo said. The car matched the description of one previously identified in connection with multiple shoplifting investigations, officials said.
"As investigators approached the vehicle, Carafeno, who was seated in the driver's seat, initially attempted to flee in the vehicle before bringing it to a stop," Murgo said. "Investigators were able to safely remove Carafeno from the vehicle and take him into custody without further incident."
According to the police captain, during the investigation, detectives confirmed that Carafeno was the subject of multiple outstanding arrest warrants issued by law enforcement agencies throughout the state, including three warrants issued by East Haven police for "various larceny-related offenses and five additional warrants for failure to appear in court."
Murgo said investigators also learned that Carafeno was in violation of an active, full no-contact protective order after he was found in the company of an individual identified as the protected party.
As a result of the investigation and his outstanding warrants, Carafeno was charged with the following offenses:
East Haven Police Department Charges:
Additional Outstanding Warrants:
Murgo added that during the apprehension, investigators observed suspected narcotics paraphernalia and numerous items believed to be associated with recent retail thefts inside the vehicle. He said that among the items observed were new clothing with retail tags, boxed espresso machines, and several boxes of Nike footwear.
The vehicle was seized and transported to the East Haven police headquarters, where it was secured pending the execution of a search warrant as part of the ongoing investigation, Murgo said.
Carafeno, taken to the East Haven Police Department for processing, was held on a total of $138,000 in bonds in connection with his outstanding warrants and additional charges.
He was due in court Monday.
"The East Haven Police Department would like to recognize the collaborative efforts of its Investigative Services Division, Patrol Division and the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force," Murgo said. "This investigation highlights the importance of information sharing and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in identifying and apprehending individuals suspected of committing crimes across multiple jurisdictions."
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