Thirty-two-year old Ann Carangelo, a first grade teacher at the Davis Street Magnet School in Westville, Conn., was suspended on Sept. 17 on a drug count.
“She will be suspended immediately with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation,” reported school officials to the New Haven Register. “Anyone who’s arrested is immediately suspended. That’s our policy.”
Carangelo has been employed by the public schools since August, 2001. She went through a routine background check before being hired, according to the spokeswoman for the Davis Street Magnet School. “There was nothing turned up that would cause concern,” she said.
Carangelo was arrested on Sept. 13 on Edgewood Avenue in the Dwight-Kensignton area. Police searched her car and found un-graded class work in the front seat and about 25 packets of heroin.
Carangelo is being charged with possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school and improper parking.
Carangelo had been seen in the area before and was known for being involved with drug activity in the past. She was released on a promise to appear in court and she is scheduled to enter a plea on Sept. 25.
She is not the first teacher to be busted for drug related arrests in the New Haven area. In August, twenty-eight-year-old David O’Reilly was charged for dealing drugs from his home to the Betsy Rose Arts Magnet School in New Haven where he was employed.
Police heard from nearby restaurants and bars that he was selling drugs to their customers.
When O’Reilly was pulled over by police, they found marijuana packages for resale usage. O’Reilly was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Police later searched O’Reilly’s house and found one ounce of cocaine and $250 cash.