Police: Anger over dead pet leads Clearwater man to burn roommate's belongings

CLEARWATER — A man angry that his roommate's dog ate his bird retaliated by setting the man's belongings on fire in the front yard, authorities said.

Christopher E. Thrap, 35, of 1749 W Manor Ave. was arrested by Clearwater police Saturday evening and charged with burglary and felony criminal mischief. On Sunday afternoon, he was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on $5,000 bail.

According to arrest reports, Thrap went into the locked bedroom of a man who rents a room from him and took numerous personal items, including a mattress, television and clothes.

Thrap put the items on the lawn and set them on fire, arrest reports show. He told police he was angry that the man's dog had eaten his "expensive bird," an arrest report states.

The burned items were worth about $5,600, police estimated.