Jeff Reardon

The former MLB pitcher was arrested yesterday after he held up a jewelry store in nearby Palm Beach Gardens.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Jeff Reardon, one of the top relief pitchers in history, blamed medication for depression after his arrest for a jewelry store robbery.

Police said Tuesday that the 50-year-old Reardon, retired since 1994 and sixth in career saves, walked into Hamilton Jewelers at the Gardens Mall on Monday and handed an employee a note saying he had a gun and the store was being robbed.

Reardon, who starred with the Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, fled the store with $170 in cash, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post.

Police found him at a nearby restaurant, recovered the stolen money and charged him with armed robbery.

Lt. David O'Neill said Reardon did not have a gun and offered no resistance when he was handcuffed.

"He said it was the medication that made him do it and that he was sorry,'' O'Neill said.

According to the arrest report cited in the Palm Beach Post, Reardon told police: "I am taking medication and am sorry for what happened ... I completely lost my mind and tried to rob (a) jewelry store. I flipped on my medications and didn't realize what I was doing."

O'Neill said Reardon has lived in the city for more than 20 years and has never caused any problems.

Reardon's attorney, Mitchell Beers, said that Reardon had taken antidepressants since his son's death in early 2004. In addition, he had taken additional medication after surgery last week.

"He asked me to apologize to his fans and friends,'' Beers said. "This bizarre incident is completely uncharacteristic of Jeff Reardon.''

Reardon made a brief appearance in court Tuesday and was to be released on $5,000 bail, Beers said. A judge ordered Reardon to undergo a mental health evaluation, according to the Post.

I heard about Reardon's arrest on the morning news but there was no mention of motive in those news reports.

As a parent who lost a son I can sympathize with Jeff Reardon. That don't condone what he did, if that's what drove him to his act. James Joyner at OTB is more accepting of Reardon blaming it on depression and medications. I've been depressed(and angry to boot) for the three years since Daniel died plus taken anti-depressants and we have had financial issues too. Nothing has driven me to commit a felony. I am always skeptical of those who blame a crime on depression.

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