The principal of a Northeast Philadelphia charter school was given a citation for retail theft Aug. 28 at a Kohl's department store in Bensalem, police said.
Patrick Field, principal of Franklin Towne Charter Elementary School on Richmond Street in Bridesburg, said Wednesday that it was simply an absent-minded mistake when he left the store with a sports coat.
"I made a grave mistake. I made an absent-minded mistake," Field said. "I picked up a garment. I didn't really love it. I thought about it. I walked around the store. It was a single garment and absentedly minded walked out with it."
He said it was the first week back to school and "there were a million things going on in my head."
Franklin Towne Charter's board of directors was told, Field said, and a note was sent out to all the parents.
Bensalem police issued Field, of Philadelphia, a citation for allegedly taking a $64 sports coat from the Kohl's in the 2300 block of Street Road at 4 p.m.. Aug. 28, a police spokeman said this week.
"I walked out of the store. There were no alarms that went off. I got to my car and security walked up to me. I cooperated with them fully and doing what I need to do to resolve this so as not make any impact on the school and students. I shared it with everyone."
He said there hasn't been any negative responses from parents to the letter sent out.
Bensalem police Sgt. Andrew Aninsman said Field was issued a summary citation, which is issued by local police for minor criminal offenses.