Lutz Man, Teen Arrested for Assault at Wilderness Lake Nature Center

A recent incident at the Wilderness Lake Nature Center that left six teens in fear for their lives resulted in the arrest of a Lutz man and a teen on Wednesday.

According to a Pasco County complaint affidavit, the victims, who ranged from 17 to 19 years of age, were in the parking lot of the community nature center around 10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, when a vehicle pulled up and two men jumped out.

The men, who were disguised, were armed with a shotgun and a handgun when they exited the car. According to the victims' separate accounts, the men pointed the guns at them and ordered them to the ground, the report stated.

Several of the teens fled on foot, and the men chased them before returning to the vehicle and leaving the scene, according to the report.

The investigation led deputies to the driver of the vehicle, Michael Vega, 18, who identified the two men by photo-pack, according to the sheriff's office.

Vega told deputies the men got out of the car to rob the teens, the report stated.

Jowel Jacob Figuero, 18, of 23601 Hardwood Court in Lutz was arrested on Jan. 9 and charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony.

The other suspect, a 17-year-old Sunlake High student, was also arrested and charged with aggravated assault. His name is being withheld by Patch because of his age.

Vega, the driver of the vehicle, has not been arrested, according to Pasco County Sheriff's spokeswoman Melanie Snow.

Figuero was released from the Land O' Lakes jail on $5,000 bond.