Troy officer allegedly stole pain killers from home during emergency call
By Bob Gardinier
The Times Union (Albany, New York)
Copyright 2007 The Hearst Corporation
All Rights Reserved
TROY, N.Y. — A Troy Fire Department captain indicted on charges that he stole painkillers from a home during an emergency call was released on bail Tuesday.
“I just want to go home,” Maurice Catel, 47, looking fatigued and wearing jail garb, told Acting Supreme Court Judge Christian Hummel during a bail hearing. He was arrested Friday.
Catel, of 19th Street in Watervliet and a member of the department for at least two decades, was indicted last week on felony charg es of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fourth-degree possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of official misconduct.
According to the indictment and court testimony Tuesday morning, Catel’s estranged wife tipped police to his alleged theft of the drug hydrocodone from a 110th Street residence in April 2006. Catel was in the home in connection with his duties as a firefighter.
David Gruenberg, Catel’s attorney, asked Hummel to release his client to the supervision of the probation department without bail. He said the charges stem from marital discord.
“This case is just coming to light now and the motive is revenge and hatred,” Gruenberg said. Gruenberg said the prosecution’s case could be hampered by issues of marital confidentiality.
Deputy District Attorney Dan Hanlon said prosecutors have more evidence against Catel than just the allegations made by his wife.
“Mr. Catel has no priors, long local connections and employment and is not much of a flight risk, but these are serious charges,” Hanlon said in asking that bail be set at $15,000.
Hummel set bail at $10,000 and a bail bondsman immediately arranged Catel’s release.
Assistant Fire Chief Bob Schlesinger said Fire Chief Tom Garrett is out of town and whether Catel will be allowed to return to work or will be suspended will be decided when he returns later in the week.