The arrests were not connected, Clearwater police said.

CLEARWATER – Two Clearwater city employees have been arrested and charged with crimes in connection with unrelated criminal investigations, according to the Clearwater Police Department.

Christopher Andrew Pieslak, 31, of Tampa, was arrested Tuesday (Sept. 26) and charged with one count of grand theft and two counts of uttering a forged check.

Pieslak deposited two checks meant for the city of Clearwater into his personal bank account after forging his name on them, police said. The total of the checks was $2,850.

Pieslak is employed as a risk management specialist and has worked for the city since April 2. Pieslak’s annual salary is about $49,968.

Brian E. Pape, 60, of Tarpon Springs, was arrested this morning (Sept. 26) and charged with scheming to defraud.

Over the past few months, Pape fueled his personal vehicle 10 times at the city gas pumps at 1701 N Hercules Ave. Police said he would use city vehicles in an effort to block surveillance video of his filling his own truck. The total loss to the city was $468.

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

The city will conduct an administrative review beginning immediately to determine the appropriate corrective action. Should the allegations be administratively sustained, the corrective action taken could be up to and
including termination, officials said.

Photo shows Christopher Andrew Pieslak, left, and Brian E. Pape.

Clearwater Police | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News

#ClearwaterPolice #Crime #Arrests #TampabayNews