Yesterday morning, a man's attempt to forcibly enter a vehicle in downtown Tampa escalated into an arson incident, disrupting the city's commute. According to WFLA, a call at 8:17 a.m. indicated a man was attempting to break into a black car near North Ashley Drive and Polk Street. Minutes later, the same car was reported aflame, with the Tampa Police arriving to find the black BMW burning and its rear window smashed.
An immediate arrest followed quickly thereafter with Tampa Police detaining Serxhio Nokaj, 29, by 10:00 a.m. at a residence on West Bay Court Avenue. In a statement obtained by TampaFP, Chief Lee Bercaw praised the prompt action, saying "From the initial call to the swift arrest, the detailed and rapid response of our entire team is commendable." Nokaj was already wanted on two active arrest warrants for failure to appear on stalking and battery (domestic violence) charges.
The vehicle's owner provided information that helped the authorities connect the dots. They were informed that the suspect was an ex-boyfriend with a history of domestic violence and stalking against his girlfriend. Details from this lead were used to conclusively link Nokaj to the crime scene, as reported by WTSP.
Tampa Fire Rescue responded rapidly to extinguish the car fire, and thankfully, there were no injuries reported. The subsequent investigation and arrest aimed to conclusively remove a potential threat from the community. "Their dedication to following every lead allowed us to take an individual with a history of domestic violence off the street within hours. Tampa is clearly a safer place with this suspect in custody," Chief Bercaw told WFLA. The westbound lanes of Polk Street were reopened shortly after 11:30 a.m., bringing normalcy back to the interrupted commute.
Nokaj is facing several charges: arson, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, felony criminal mischief, possession of cannabis (more than 20 grams), and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Orient Road Jail as the investigation continues to make sure all aspects of the incident are thoroughly examined and prosecuted.
