Tampa's Edwin Rodriguez Wanted in Domestic Violence Case

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives are asking for the public's help finding 30-year-old Edwin Rodriguez, who is wanted on charges of domestic violence aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and domestic violence criminal mischief of $1,000 or more. The warrant was publicized Wednesday as part of the agency's weekly social media push to track down fugitives wanted on outstanding felony charges.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, detectives are asking anyone with information about Rodriguez's whereabouts to call the department's non-emergency line at 813-247-8200. The agency's Warrant Wednesday campaign is a recurring effort to crowdsource public tips on felony suspects, and this post was signed by Sheriff Chad Chronister. HCSO notes that its social media account is not monitored around the clock, so the phone line remains the primary way to relay tips.

🚨Warrant Wednesday🚨
Detectives with #teamHCSO are asking for the public's help locating Edwin Rodriguez, 30.

He is wanted for the following charges:
▪ Domestic Violence Aggravated Battery Deadly Weapon
▪ Domestic Violence Criminal Mischief $1,000 or more

If you have any… pic.twitter.com/5SDjx4irOX

— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) August 26, 2026

The specifics of Rodriguez's alleged relationship to the victim, the object described as a deadly weapon, and the property allegedly damaged have not been detailed in the warrant notice. Under Florida case law, an object can be legally defined as a deadly weapon for aggravated battery purposes if it is used, or threatened to be used, in a manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm — a standard that extends beyond firearms and knives to items such as vehicles or heavy household objects, according to Hanlon Law.

What the Charges Could Mean Legally

Domestic violence aggravated battery with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony under Florida Statute § 784.045(2), carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison, 15 years of probation, and up to $10,000 in fines, per Online Sunshine, the state's official statutes database. The criminal mischief charge is elevated from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony once property damage reaches or exceeds $1,000, which under state law can bring up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

To secure a conviction on the felony mischief count, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the damage was inflicted willfully and maliciously, and they must back up the $1,000 threshold with competent financial or repair evidence, according to Hussein & Webber, PL. No court filings detailing that evidence in Rodriguez's case have been made public. As with any warrant, the allegations against Rodriguez remain unproven, and he has not been convicted of any crime.

Part of a Larger Pattern of Warrant Wednesday Postings

Rodriguez's case is far from the only domestic violence warrant HCSO has publicized this month. Just last week, the sheriff's office sought 32-year-old Xzavelis Tyler on a domestic violence aggravated battery charge involving a pregnant victim, and Hoodline covered that search in deputies' hunt for a man wanted in an attack on a pregnant victim. That same report noted HCSO established a dedicated 12-detective Domestic Violence Unit in December 2025 to handle abuse investigations and offender accountability.

The pairing of aggravated battery and felony criminal mischief charges has shown up in Hillsborough warrant postings before. In March, HCSO's Warrant Wednesday campaign sought 29-year-old Alexander Jamis on the same combination of domestic violence battery and criminal mischief of $1,000 or more, suggesting these companion charges are not unusual in the county's domestic violence caseload.

Crime Trends and Recent Legal Changes

The case comes amid a broader statistical decline in violence across the county. Overall violent crime in Hillsborough County dropped 13.85% in 2025, the fourth consecutive year of reductions, based on FBI NIBRS data released by the sheriff's office. At the same time, Florida lawmakers passed a domestic violence reform law in March that expands perpetrator accountability, stiffens penalties for repeat offenders, and allows victims to cite threats against pets in protective order petitions.

Anyone with information about Edwin Rodriguez's location is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS, which can lead to a cash reward for information resulting in an arrest.