Surveillance video of a theft from a doctor’s office in Holmes Beach led to the arrest of the wife of a prominent Anna Maria official.
Further, it is not the first circumstance or the only office in the professional building that was breached.
Missing cash, office supplies, stamps, medications — as well as a $100 bill a month ago, and another $100 a week later, and finally, a video of a $5 ream of paper being taken Oct. 21 — led an island physician to press charges against the wife of an Anna Maria city commissioner.
Flora Webb, 60, was arrested Nov. 3 for burglary based on a surveillance recording and the affidavit of Dr. Scott Kosfeld of Island Family Physicians, 3909 E. Bay Drive, Suite 100, Holmes Beach.
Holmes Beach Police Department reported the video showed Webb rummaging after business hours in several drawers and removing the packaged ream of paper.
HBPD Detective Sgt. Brian Hall said Kosfeld installed the surveillance camera after the $100 bills were stolen from the office petty cash.
Kosfeld’s affidavit stated that during the “last several years” the office noticed missing “rolls of stamps, reams of paper, medications off my desk.”
Hall said the missing medications were samples and gave no specifics.
Holmes Beach Chief Bill Tokajer said Kosfeld noted there could be no sharing of office supplies after-hours because all employees must be in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Hall said he has cleared his file, but it would be up to Island Family Physicians to take civil action on any alleged HIPPA violation.
Following Webb’s Nov. 3 arrest, Hall learned of another possible breach about 18 months ago in the professional building on East Bay Drive. He reported that Flora Webb was allegedly found without permission in the office of Dr. Paul Barrese.
Janice Burnett, a front desk employee in Barrese’s office told the detective that she arrived at the office on the weekend, and as she opened the office door “the lock felt different” and she heard a door close inside the office. She observed Webb coming out “with a surprised look on her face,” according to the police report.
Burnett speculated that Webb may have had a master key for the offices.
The video from Island Family Physicians — recorded on the first day after the surveillance equipment was installed, according to Hall — shows Webb with a key in her hand.
Nothing was found missing from Barrese’s office, but the locks were changed after the incident, according to Hall’s report.
Webb works for her husband’s law firm in the same building.
Her husband, Chuck Webb, an attorney and Anna Maria city commissioner, was seeking re-election to his seat in the Nov. 8 election, which concluded after The Islander went to press.
Flora Webb was taken into custody at the law office.
According to the police report, Chuck Webb, who practices civil law, invoked his wife’s right to remain silent and said he would hire a criminal lawyer.
Kosfeld said he delayed making a police report on the most recent incident in order to confer with his attorney regarding an ongoing case involving Webb and his law practice.
Chuck Webb and Kosfeld have an ongoing civil dispute.
Webb’s firm filed suit April 4 against Kosfeld and his wife, Erin Kosfeld, alleging the Kosfelds owe the firm $48,525 in attorney’s fees, plus $13,581 in interest, for past legal services.
The complaint seeks to collect the fees based on an attorney-client security agreement signed by the Kosfelds, pledging their Anna Maria home and other assets to the firm.
The Kosfelds have answered the complaint and claim the agreements are unenforceable. The civil case is in discovery.
Flora Webb was transported to the Manatee County jail and released later that day on $1,500 bond, pending court proceedings at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.