Pair arrested after being pulled over in a stolen car

By Joel Anderson, Times Staff Writer
Published February 11, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - A 15-year-old Riverview girl has confessed to stealing a car and committing four burglaries in the Tampa area over the weekend with an 18-year-old man, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

The girl, who isn't being identified because she is a juvenile, and Osiel Lugo of Plant City both face charges of grand theft and possession of burglary tools.

Lugo also was charged with fleeing to elude, driving with a suspended driver's license and operating an unregistered vehicle. He remained in the Pasco County Jail on Sunday in lieu of $15,400 bail.

The girl was released Saturday into the custody of her parents.

A deputy said he stopped the teens about 5 a.m. Saturday in Wesley Chapel because their car didn't have a tag. The vehicle didn't yield once the deputy turned on his emergency lights, the arrest report said, but it came to a stop after a few minutes.

After being advised of their Miranda rights, the girl told the deputy she and Lugo took the gold, four-door Toyota Avalon from a home on Pebble Creek Boulevard in Tampa. The car was later reported stolen to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

[Last modified February 10, 2008, 21:37:57]