The Osceola County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of a man described as a repeat felonious offender on a rape charge Tuesday night.
Osvaldo Figueroa, 55, was arrested Tuesday in Lake County. He was brought back to Osceola to face charges on allegations he raped an 18-year-old woman delivering pizza to a Kissimmee apartment complex.
Osceola Sheriff Marcos Lopez said at an impromptu press conference Tuesday night that Figueroa allegedly sexually battered the woman in an elevator. The Sheriff's Office went live on social media around 8 p.m., showing Figueroa being led out of its offices and into a waiting cruiser to take him to jail; he vehemently denied the charge during the walk in an expletive-filled tirade directed at media cameras.
U.S. Marshalls assisted with locating Figueroa in Lake County, where he was arrested on one count of sexual battery and returned to Osceola County. Tuesday night he was remanded to the Osceola County Jail — it's a familiar place for Figueroa.
Lopez called Figueroa a "multiple offender" — he has multiple felony arrests in Osceola County going back to 2000 for robbery, battery, aggravated assault, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and drug possession.
"I'm not sure what's wrong with the system. But it needs to change," he said. "This is a prolific offender who needs to go to prison."
Lopez also addressed a female companion, who is a "person of interest."
"But we're focusing on (Figueroa) right now," the Sheriff said.
This is a developing story, check back at AroundOsceola.com for further updates.
