Deputies: Victim Distracted by Prayer Before Purse Nabbed

A couple has been arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, after deputies accuse the woman of distracting a victim by offering to pray with her while the male suspect stole the victim's purse.

The Bradenton Herald reports that the purse was taken Sunday night from a vehicle parked at Walgreen's, at 2640 Cortez Road W.

The victim told the Manatee County Sheriff's Office that she first was approached by the female suspect, who asked the victim to pray along with her.

A male supsect then grabbed the victim's purse, and the suspects fled in opposite directions.

Michael Baker, 32, of Palmetto and Alicia Sportelli, 25, of Bradenton, were arrested a short time later by a deputy on drug surveillance. The deputy had pulled over Baker's truck because the license plate was obscurred.

Personal belongings from the victim's purse were scattered on the truck's floor and in plain view, according to the deputy.

According to the Bradenton Herald:

Baker and Sportelli "admitted they had devised the scheme to distract the woman in order to steal her purse, according to the sheriff's office."

Baker was charged with burglary of a conveyance, conspiracy to commit burglary to a conveyance, trafficking in prescription pills, grand theft and possession of stolen debit card.

Sportelli was charged with principle to burglary of a conveyance, conspiracy to commit burglary, trafficking in prescription pills, grand theft and possession of stolen debit card.

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