A 33-year-old man is facing attempted murder and strangulation charges after deputies say he chased down his girlfriend, dragged her to a nearby pond, and held her underwater while threatening to kill her. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday to the intersection of Cypress Village Boulevard and Montero Court after a call reporting that a man was chasing and attacking a woman.
According to a post from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
, deputies arrived to find the situation and identified the suspect as Alexander Valencia. Investigators said Valencia and the victim had been in a romantic relationship for several months. The sheriff's office said Valencia dragged the woman to a pond, held her underwater, and threatened to kill her.
Loaded Firearm Found in Vehicle
Deputies also located a loaded firearm inside Valencia's vehicle, according to the sheriff's office. HCSO said Valencia is a convicted felon.
Valencia was ultimately arrested on several felony charges, according to the sheriff's office.
What Florida Law Says About Strangulation Charges
Under Florida law, felony battery or domestic battery by strangulation is classified as a felony of the third degree, according to the Florida Senate's published statutes. The excerpted statute does not detail the specific sentencing provisions that could apply in Valencia's case.
No arrest affidavit, court docket information, or case disposition has been made public at this time. The sheriff's office has not released additional details about the condition of the woman involved in the attack.
