E. Haven mayor defends her actions

East Haven (WTNH) - Mayor April Capone-Almon is speaking out and defending her actions, even if it leads to her arrest.

"I take the process very seriously but I believe in what I did," she said. "I did my job as mayor."

An arrest warrant application was submitted to the state's attorney seeking her arrest for interfering with police back in July. In the official police report, Ofc. Michael Sarbo claims the mayor ordered him to stop ticketing and towing cars from a beach parking lot.

Mayor Capone-Almon says she isn't worried, pointing to a June police department memo that stated cars are not to be towed from beach lots.

"It really was unfair for the residents to be put in that position and I will stand up for them at all costs and we'll see how this unfolds," she said.

The issue is likely to follow the mayor onto the campaign trail as she seeks a second term. Republican opponent John Finkle says it goes beyond the towing incident to the mayor's decision to re-assign the officer involved.

"At some point she needed to stand up and admit what she did was wrong and she didn't do that," he said.

The mayor did call the police station that day, and like all calls to dispatch, it was recorded. News Channel 8 requested a copy of the audio transmission under the Freedom of Information Act. We have been told that the town attorney has denied our request stating the tape is part of the ongoing investigation.