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Republican-American
BY ANDREW LARSON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
March 13, 2010
WATERBURY — A former school principal caught stealing a New York Yankees hat from the Bob’s store on Wolcott Road Friday night says he overdosed on medication before committing the act.
Security guards watched a surveillance monitor as David Macharelli, of 55 Autumn Ridge Road in Naugatuck, concealed a hat under his coat. Macharelli left the store without paying and was detained.
Macharelli, 60, was the principal of Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School from 1999 to 2003. His 31-year career with the school system ended in 2003 after he was charged in connection with several cases of petty theft.
Until Friday, he had not been arrested since 2003. The baseball hat Macharelli stole was valued at $27, said Lt. Christopher Corbett, spokesman for Waterbury Police Department. He was charged with sixth-degree larceny.
Macharelli, reached at his Naugatuck home Saturday, sounded apologetic and said he didn’t mean to commit a crime.
“I have been suffering from depression and I had overmedicated somewhat and went into Bob’s and took a hat,” he said.
Macharelli said he has bipolar disorder, a psychological illness that causes severe mood swings. He said he’s currently experiencing symptoms associated with the “down” phase of the disease.
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