Philadelphia Police Sergeant Charged After Strange Encounter During Gun Giveback
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A Philadelphia police officer is facing charges after he reportedly used a fake name and birthdate when attempting to turn in three handguns.
Sgt. Brandon Ruff, 28, allegedly arrived at 35th Police District headquarters in August 2014, in civilian clothes and carrying a bag containing three guns.
Ruff said he wanted to surrender the guns and claimed they came from a family member and he knew nothing about them.
When an officer went to get the guns and asked Ruff to identify himself for their records, Ruff reportedly gave the name "Ryan Jones" and a fake date of birth.
At that point, Ruff is said to have become agitated and tried to leave the building. Once outside, officers stopped him and observed a bulge in his waistband which turned out to be his privately owned handgun.
Ruff continued to refuse requests for ID and his permit to carry the gun.
Back inside the building, an officer conducted a thorough search of Ruff and found his police identification. All three guns came back to different owners, and one was reported stolen in South Philadelphia in 2010.
Initially, Ruff was charged with one count of providing false identification.
Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey has suspended the eight-year veteran of the department for thirty days with intent to dismiss.
Ruff has filed a brutality suit against the department for injuries he says he suffered during the incident in August.