North Branford Gun Theft May Be Related to Orange Burglary

The Orange Police Department shared this press release regarding the recent burglary at CT Firearms & Tactical in Orange on April 22, which may be linked to the in North Branford. 

The Orange Police Department has vigorously continued to investigate the burglary at CT Firearms & Tactical that occurred on April 22. The Department received information that approximately an hour and thirty minutes after the burglary complaint, the Yale University Police Department had made an arrest on a 16-year-old male in New Haven for possession of one of the hand guns stolen in the burglary.

Officer Otero of Yale University Police observed youth acting suspiciously in the area of Crown Street and High Street in New Haven at about 1:05 a.m. Otero investigated further and determined the youth was in possession of a hand gun. He took the youth into custody and determined the hand gun had been reported stolen in the CT Firearms & Tactical burglary.

Investigators collaborated with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as well as New Haven and on this case. With information developed during the investigation, as well as evidence collected from the burglary, Orange investigators were able to obtain search and arrest warrants during the evening of April 26 for a Devin Rutledge, DOB 11/18/1992 of 420 Eastern St. Apt 3D, New Haven.

In the early morning hours of April 27, Orange Police investigators met with members of the New Haven and North Branford Police Departments as well as ATF to attempt to serve the warrants. Acting under the authority of the search warrant to enter the residence to look for Rutledge, the New Haven Police SWAT team, led by Lieutenant Thad Reddish, made entry into the residence at 420 Eastern St., Apt 3D, New Haven. Rutledge was not found to be in the residence at that time.

Officers went out in the area to look for him and at about 8:10 a.m. Officers Hurley and Morrone of the New Haven Police Department located and identified Rutledge in the area of Whalley Avenue near Orchard Street in New Haven and took him into custody on the Orange burglary warrant. He was brought to the Orange Police Department to be charged and processed.

Rutledge is being charged with third-degree burglary, three counts of theft of a firearm, fourth-degree larceny, first-degree criminal mischief, as well as Conspiracy to Commit each of those charges and is being held on $100,000 bond. Police are continuing to aggressively follow leads in this investigation and additional arrests are expected. At this time, no additional firearms have been located.

Orange Police Department Press Release