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Deputies: Caregiver steals, pawns $35K in jewelry items

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 37-year-old caregiver was arrested Thursday after deputies said she stole $35,000 in jewelry from a residence before pawning the items at pawn shops. Melitta Lahazel Thornton told deputies she cared for one of the victims' parents and was often alone with them at their home, reports show. Thornton denied stealing and pawning the jewelry. This is the second incident this week involving suspects stealing and pawning thousands in jewelry from county homes. Deputies arrested Thornton, of the 4000 block of 41st Square, on charges of giving false information to a pawn broker and third-degree grand theft. Thornton was released Thursday from the Indian River County Jail on $20,000 bond. Indian River County deputies began investigating the ...

Deputies: Man spits in roommate’s face in feud over clothes

GIFFORD — A 35-year-old man who spit in his roommate's face after being confronted about a messy apartment, was arrested, authorities said. The man - identified as Trovon Patterson - told deputies he was angry because he thought his roommate, a woman, had taken his clothes out of a dresser in his bedroom, reports show. Deputies arrested Patterson, of the 4300 block of 35th Avenue, on a misdemeanor battery charge. Patterson is being held at the Indian River County Jail on $500 bond. Deputies responded to a disturbance about 5 p.m. Thursday at Patterson's residence. Deputies spoke with a woman who had what appeared to be spit on her head, reports show. The woman told deputies that when she came ...

Housekeeper steals more than $6K in jewelry from two residents – reports

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 36-year-old housekeeper suspected of stealing more than $6,000 worth of items total from two residents told deputies she "needed the money to get (another) place to live," authorities said. The woman traded the items for cash at two local pawn shops, reports show. Deputies arrested Bonnie Rathbun, of the first block of Calypso Cay, on charges of grand theft, dealing in stolen property and giving false information to a pawnbroker. She is being held at the Indian River County Jail on $9,000 bond. Deputies responded to a report of theft May 25 at a residence in the Heron Cay Development. Deputies spoke with a woman, who said three rings, worth $6,500 total, were stolen from her ...