Woman fights off suspected kidnapper in Florida gym

A woman has described how she fought off a suspected kidnapper in a Florida gym.

Footage has been released by authorities showing the incident on 22 January in Tampa.

Nashali Alma, 24, was exercising alone in her apartment complex’s gym when a short time later, she noticed a man at the door trying to enter the room. Ms Alma then let him in.

“He was at the door, I buzzed him in and he came inside,” Ms Alma said in the video released by sheriffs.

She added: “My thought process was, it was just another dude coming in to work out. So I didn’t think of anything out of that”.

The woman continued working out as normal, but within a few minutes, she was approached by the man.

The suspect Xavier Thomas-Jones, 25, tried to “grab her waist”, police said.

Ms Alma said: “As soon as he was approaching me, I pushed him. I said: ‘Bro, what the F are you doing? Get away from me. Stop trying to touch me’.”

Thomas-Jones then chased Ms Alma around the gym, grabbing her and forcing her to the ground, according to officers.

She continued to fight him off while attempting to call police.

Officers said Thomas-Jones eventually “released his grip on Alma, and she immediately ran out of the gym to a nearby apartment”.

The day after the alleged assault, sheriff’s deputies were able to track down Thomas-Jones and arrest him.

Woman hailed as ‘inspiring’

Sheriff Chad Chronister said: “I was disgusted by the suspect’s actions, how he preyed on this young woman.”

He continued: “This woman’s strength, courage, and determination are inspiring. I know that her bravery to share this story will impact the lives of many other women. I’m grateful that she came forward.”

In the video, Ms Alma advised women to “never give up”.

Thomas-Jones is facing charges of sexual battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.