A Philadelphia Police sergeant has been charged with failing to identify himself while trying to turn over handguns to his colleagues in a different police district, prosecutors said.
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office on Monday charged Sgt. Brandon Ruff with one count of False Identification to Law Enforcement Authorities.
NBC10 first told you about the case involving Ruff last August. The 28-year-old was taken into custody while trying to anonymously give up three handguns to the 35th District in North Philadelphia. He was in plainclothes at the time.
Ruff, an 8-year-veteran last assigned to the 16th District, told NBC10 he was given the guns by an unidentified community member and simply wanted to get them off the streets with no questions asked.
That plan didn't pan out, however, as police asked for his name and where he obtained the weapons. He eventually gave a fake name, Ryan Jones, and birthday, prosecutors said.
When Ruff tried to leave, officers followed him and took him into custody outside. Ruff said he was treated unfairly and was brutalized. He filed a lawsuit against the department regarding the incident.
Ballistics showed all three guns were registered to different owners. One gun was reported stolen in a 2010 burglary in South Philadelphia, officials said.
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A Philadelphia Police Department spokeswoman said Ruff will be fired after a standard 30 day suspension.
Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter and Facebook.
