HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County deputies released video of a woman being attack inside of an apartment complex’s gym.
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Nashali Alma, 24, said she was opening the gym’s door for a man at the Inwood Park Apartment Complex in Tampa.
Deputies said Alma went back to her workout and then the man tried to grab her. She then fought back.
She said she pushed him away after he grabbed her waist, and then he chased her around the gym.
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That’s when she pinned him to the floor.
Deputies said the man eventually gave up and left the gym. Alma ran to a nearby apartment for safety.
Alma said she kept telling herself to not give up.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Xavier Thomas-Jones, 25.
Deputies said he returned to the apartment complex, where he is a resident, and was watching another woman “for several minutes” before knocking on her door. Officials said that the woman answered the knocks, not knowing that he had allegedly been watching her. Deputies said that he asked her if she wanted to “hang out” and he tried to enter her apartment before her fiancée chased him away, reports said.
A woman shares her experience after fighting off a man who physically assaulted her in her apartment complex's gym.
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) February 15, 2023
Nashali Alma wanted to speak out about her experience to encourage other women who've dealt with similar incidents to speak out. pic.twitter.com/hyTeO3quRA
Thomas-Jones told deputies that he restrained and battered Alma because he wanted to have sex with her. He told law enforcement that he went to the apartment of the second woman, who was not identified, because he thought she was “pretty” and he wanted to have sex with her also, reports said.
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Thomas-Jones has been charged with kidnapping, sexual battery, false imprisonment and burglary.
The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
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