A Wethersfield elementary school principal who is accused of following young girls around a Hartford Wal-Mart and sneaking photos of them has resigned.
John Bean, the 46-year-old principal of Highcrest Elementary School, was placed on administrative leave during the ongoing investigation in October.
Bean was arrested after police responded to the Wal-Mart on Flatbush Avenue in September and store staff members said he was following children in the store and “attempting to surreptitiously photograph them,” especially when they were not with their parents, the incident report says.
One witness said the children were girls between 6 and 8 years old and Wal-Mart staff members said Bean, who has three children of his own, was holding a small toy and using it to hide his iPhone.
The police officer who responded to the scene asked Bean what he was doing and he responded that he was shopping, but he did not have a shopping cart, according to police.
When the officer asked Bean if he’d been taking photos and following children, Bean diverted his eyes, tried to walk away as police said they were detaining him and he tried to resist arrest, according to the incident report.
The report says Bean never asked what was happening, but asked if he was under arrest and said he did not do anything.
During questioning, police asked Bean to unlock his phone so they could clear things up, but Bean refused, according to police. Authorities seized the SIM card and send the phone to a lab to check what's on it.
Police also reviewed surveillance from the store and said it appeared Bean was looking more at the aisles and people than the store merchandise.
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The principal was charged with interfering with an officer for resisting arrest and second-degree breach of peace, according to police.
Police said they immediately notified the Wethersfield Police Chief, as well as security for the Wethersfield Board of Education when they started to investigate and the board of education took immediate action.
