Belleair Bluffs Tailor Accused Of Inappropriately Touching Teen Girl

CLEARWATER, FL — Pinellas County sheriff's detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested 72-year-old Petru Veresan of Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater and charged him with one count of lewd and lascivious molestation and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct.

Detectives began an investigation after a 14-year-old victim reported that Veresan inappropriately touched her on numerous occasions while at Peter's Tailor Shop at 778 Indian Rocks Road in Belleair Bluffs, which Veresan owns. She told detectives that he also made inappropriate sexual comments to her about wanting to have sex with her. The victim told detectives that these incidents did not just occur while Veresan was tailoring her clothing.

On Thursday, Veresan was interviewed by detectives and placed under arrest. Veresan admitted to possibly touching the victim inappropriately while tailoring clothing for her, detectives said.

He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail.

Anyone with information regarding this case should call Detective Kara Yakes at 727-582-6611 or by email kyakes@pcsonet.com.