2 Clearwater Employees Accused Of Stealing From City

CLEARWATER, FL -- Clearwater Police have arrested two city employees who have been accused of stealing from the city in two unrelated incidents.

Following investigations, police arrested Christopher Andrew Pieslak, 31, of Tampa on Tuesday, Sept. 25, and charged him with grand theft and two counts of uttering a forged check.

Pieslak is accused of forging a signature and depositing two checks meant for the city of Clearwater into his personal bank account. The checks totaled $2,850. Pieslak is a risk management specialist and has worked for the city since April 2. His annual salary is $49,968.

Police also arrested Brian E. Pape, 60, of Tarpon Springs Wednesday, Sept. 26, and charged him with scheming to defraud.

Police say, over the past few months Pape put gas in his personal vehicle 10 times at the city gas pumps at 1701 N. Hercules Ave. The value of the gas totaled $468. Police say he used city vehicles to block surveillance cameras so he wouldn't be recorded filling up his personal vehicle.

Pape is an equipment operator for the city's solid waste department and has been a city employee since Oct. 7, 2013. His annual salary is $30,516.

The city will conduct an administrative review to determine if the employees will be terminated.

Image city of Clearwater

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