Branford Man Charged In Robbery Of Gas Station, Attempted Robbery Of Bank: Police

BRANFORD, CT — The Guilford Police Department on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with an armed robbery that occurred at a gas station in town earlier this month, and an attempted robbery at a local bank that took place a week later.

David Pulcinella, 54, of Branford, was taken into custody on Aug. 12 by East Haven police following a robbery in their jurisdiction, Guilford police said in a news release.

Also on that date, Pulcinella was arrested by Guilford police and charged with second-degree criminal attempt to commit robbery. Pulcinella was held on a $250,000 bond on those charges.

Pulcinella was arrested and charged again on Aug. 20 on a warrant in connection with the gas station robbery, police said, noting charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny. Those charges came with a $75,000 court-set bond.

On Aug. 5 at about 8:54 p.m., the Guilford Police Department responded to the Mobil Gas Station in the 500 block of Boston Post Road on a report of an armed robbery.

"During the robbery, the suspect displayed and threatened the use of a handgun while demanding money from the register. The clerk was not injured and the suspect fled the area prior to police arrival," police said.

On Aug. 12 at 2:22 p.m., police received a 911 call and a bank hold-up alarm at Ascend Bank in the 600 block of Boston Post Road.

"The suspect provided a handwritten note demanding money, but the suspect fled the area when no money was relinquished," police said. "No one at the bank was harmed."

The GPD Detective Unit launched an investigation, and Pulcinella was subsequently identified as a suspect, police said.

"These investigations were aided significantly by intelligence sharing and leveraging technology available through our law enforcement partners in the region," Guilford police said, noting assistance from the East Haven Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Branford Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office.

"The members of the Guilford Police Department are deeply appreciative of the proactive efforts made by our regional partners to facilitate this investigation, bringing an end to this spree of robberies.

Police said the arrest highlights the benefits of technology such as fixed license plate readers.

"The networking and communication amongst law enforcement agencies in our region and the state grows stronger every day, and the ability of law enforcement to utilize new technologies in the furtherance of our mission to protect and serve our communities has made it harder for cases like these to go unsolved," police added.

Business owners interested in a security assessment are encouraged to contact Guilford police at 203-453-8061 for more information.