Orlando, Florida

From the Orlando Sentinel of December 15, 2005

Police: Victim surprised would-be robbers

Two teenagers remained in the Orange County Jail on Wednesday after picking the wrong victim to try to rob -- an armed Floridian with a concealed-weapon permit.

Orlando police said one of the surprised suspects told them they chose the man outside a Marriott Fairfield Inn because they thought he would be an easy target.

The 37-year-old Lake County man had just shut his car door in the motel's parking lot at 1 p.m. Tuesday when the teens approached him and said, "You know what's up," reports show.

Carrying pistols, the teens threatened to kill the man if he didn't give them money, police said. Fearing they would spot the holstered pistol in his waistband, the man started emptying his pockets until the teens relaxed and backed off, reports show.

That's when the man, a military veteran who works at Walt Disney World, drew his handgun and fired.

"The defendants then fled the scene running with no property from the victim," police wrote, describing their crossing of Major Boulevard.

Miguel Arias, 17, was stopped within minutes and admitted taking part in the attempted robbery, reports show. Dennis Pugh, 18, was arrested nearby in a Suburban Lodge, where police searched his room and seized a .25-caliber Raven pistol and a BB gun that looks like a 9 mm pistol, reports show.

The victim did not want to be named, saying he feared for the safety of his family if the teens learn his identity. No one was injured when he fired, police said.

Arias and Pugh, both of Orlando, were being held without bail in the Orange County Jail on charges of robbery with a firearm.