VERO BEACH, FL – A 33-year-old Miami man we arrested after he urinated on himself and used a cup of water to try to wash away evidence of sex with a 13-year-old girl he picked up in northern Indian River County over the weekend.
The man, identified as Carlos Lagos, was arrested after he dropped the girl off near her home. Upon his arrest, investigators informed Lagos he would be subject to a body search, that swabs from his body would be taken.
“That’s when he tried to wash away any remaining evidence. Lagos met the young teen via SnapChat, where he kept adding her and she kept blocking him, the family told us,” the Indian River Sheriff’s Office said. “Lagos told the girl he was 17 and had asked her a number of times to meet up with him.”
“She told us that had made her uncomfortable, but she ultimately left her home in the middle of the night,” deputies reported.
Lagos drove the girl to the McDonalds near Interstate 95 and County Road 512 to get food.
They then drove to the RaceTrack gas station parking lot, where they parked. The girl told investigators that’s where Lagos sexually assaulted her. When he was done, he asked her if she wanted to be pregnant.
When she said no, they drove to an area at Walgreen’s where he bought Plan B, an emergency contraception pill, and she took it. Lagos then drove the girl back to the area near her home. During the drive home, the girl texted her sister and said she was scared.
“She also described the vehicle, which led our team to stop Lagos on the road and take him into custody,” deputies said. “Lagos has since bonded out of the county jail on $200,000 bond.”
Detectives Dilks and Avila, who handled this initial case, are continuing their investigation into Lagos. More charges could be forthcoming.
“Our agency will not stand idly by while monsters prey on our youth,” said Sheriff Eric Flowers. “You can expect more arrests as we continue to increase our proactive approach and get these predators behind bars.”