A Tampa-area man ended up in handcuffs after deputies say he strangled a woman until she lost consciousness, then tried to make a break for it in a botched getaway that ended in a ditch and a Taser deployment.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the chain of events started just after 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, when a woman arrived at a local urgent care with multiple bruises and lacerations. She told medical staff she had been strangled, and deputies were called in. The suspect was later identified as 32-year-old Anthony Rodriguez Jr.
Deputies say they located Rodriguez nearby, at which point he attempted to flee in a vehicle, crashed into a ditch, then abandoned the car and ran. The sheriff's office reports that a foot chase followed and ended when deputies used a Taser and took him into custody.
A domestic violence investigation ended with a man in custody after he tried to flee from deputies.
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) July 24, 2026
On July 22, 2026, just after 10:30 a.m., #teamHCSO responded after a victim arrived at a local urgent care with multiple bruises and lacerations. The victim stated that the… pic.twitter.com/zxXMzEeRse
That account was laid out in a post on X by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which named Rodriguez as the suspect and said deputies pursued him before using a Taser to effect the arrest. Sheriff Chad Chronister wrote that "the man made the choice to abuse someone he believed he could control and then made another bad decision by trying to run from the consequences," according to the agency's post.
Why strangulation raises concern
Non-fatal strangulation is widely recognized by medical and criminal justice experts as a marker of severe intimate partner violence and a strong predictor of future lethality. A clinical review from the National Library of Medicine notes that survivors who are strangled face greatly increased risk and that careful medical and forensic evaluation is critical, even when visible injuries appear limited.
Resources and next steps
The sheriff's post included the National Domestic Violence Hotline number, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), and urged anyone in danger to seek help. Confidential support and live chat are available at The Hotline. Authorities advise calling 911 in an emergency, or using the sheriff's public tips channels if you have information related to this case.
Investigation and legal status
The sheriff's office says Rodriguez is in custody and the investigation remains active. The social media post did not list formal charges. Prosecutors with the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office will review the investigative findings before any charges are filed.
