BELLEAIR – A caretaker described by police as a “family friend” hired to assist a woman dying of cancer was arrested June 26 on charges she stole a credit card and racked up thousands of dollars in purchases.
Angela Gail Tassillo, 20, of 9211 Jakes Path in Largo, was arrested June 26 and charged with scheming to defraud and grand theft.
According to Belleair police, Tassillo had worked at the home on Cypress Avenue for just a few weeks when the victim’s husband received a fraud alert phone call from the credit card company notifying him of thousands of dollars in purchases.
The man’s wife died the following day.
According to police, Tassillo used the stolen credit card to make $4,156 in purchases, for among other things, an LCD TV, Wii and Ipod. She also is accused of stealing the man’s Nikon camera, which was later recovered.
Jail records show Tassillo was released on her own recognizance June 29.
Belleair police are interested in speaking with anyone who previously hired Tassillo as a caregiver. Call Detective Jim Howard or Lt. Bill Sohl at 588-3769.
Largo man charged with Belleair motor home burglary
BELLEAIR – Belleair police arrested a Largo man July 2 in connection with the burglary of a motor home in December of last year.
Jeremiah Luther, 22, of 364 Clearwater-Largo Road, Apt. 32, is accused of burglarizing the motor home which was being stored at Belleair Storage on Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Police said the burglar left his hat behind at the crime scene and when it was tested for DNA, the evidence led them to Luther, who was on probation for possession of cocaine.
He was being held on $10,000 bond for burglary of a conveyance and $5,000 bond for violation of probation.
Beer pong leads to criminal mischief
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – A Seminole man was charged with felony criminal mischief following a game of beer pong in Indian Rocks Beach July 2.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Kevin Patrick Platthy, 21, smashed the top of the juke box at Coaster’s Bar and Grill at 1309 Gulf Blvd. because he said he got too excited during a game of beer pong.
The bar’s co-owner, Michael Charles Lee, told responding deputies that Platthy fled after the 1 a.m. incident. He was apprehended nearby and booked on $2,000 bond.
![[Image]](/content_images/070809_bee-04.jpg)
