An assistant head of school at a South Florida preparatory academy has been taken into custody over allegations of shoplifting. Raiza Echemendia, 48, an educator at Chaminade–Madonna College Preparatory, is facing grand theft charges after reportedly stealing items from a Macy's store at Pembroke Lakes Mall. The apparel and footwear taken by Echemendia totaled approximately $876.99, as reported by Local 10.
During the alleged incident, which happened on Sunday, loss prevention officers observed Echemendia with a beige bag which she entered the store with, concealing merchandise on her person as well as inside the bag. Exiting the store without any apparent effort to pay for the concealed items, she was stopped by loss prevention personnel and promptly escorted back into the venue. "She was stopped by loss prevention and escorted back to the store," according to an arrest report mentioned by WSVN.
Echemendia was then detained by the Pembroke Pines Police, who charged her with felony grand theft. Her bond is currently set at $2,500. With a tenure spanning over two decades, Echemendia's employment status at Chaminade–Madonna now hangs in balance after having worked there for 26 years.
The school, known for its collegiate preparatory programs, has yet to release a statement regarding Echemendia's arrest or her future with the institution. "Echemendia has been working at Chaminade–Madonna for 26 years," as WSVN reported, and how this incident will impact her career remains uncertain until further developments surface.
