Tampa Police, working with Tampa Fire Rescue Arson Investigators, arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with an arson case that disrupted downtown traffic early Thursday morning.
“From the initial call to the swift arrest, the detailed and rapid response of our entire team is commendable,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “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.”
According to police, officers responded at about 8:17 a.m. on October 30 to reports of a man attempting to break into a black vehicle near N. Ashley Ave. and W. Polk St. Minutes later, another call reported that the same vehicle was on fire. Officers found a black BMW burning from inside and with its rear window smashed. Tampa Fire Rescue extinguished the fire.
No injuries were reported, but traffic on Polk St. was affected during the morning commute.
While collecting evidence at the scene, officers spoke with the car’s owner, who told them his girlfriend had ongoing domestic violence and stalking issues involving her ex-boyfriend. This information helped detectives quickly identify Serxhio Nokaj as a suspect. Authorities determined Nokaj had two active warrants for failure to appear in court on charges of stalking and battery related to domestic violence.
Police located Nokaj just before 10:00 a.m. at 2905 W. Bay Court Ave., where he was arrested on his outstanding warrants and additionally charged with arson, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, felony criminal mischief, possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to Orient Road Jail.
The investigation is ongoing.
