A Tampa woman who fought off an attacker at her apartment complex’s gym is speaking out about her experience in the hopes that other women will feel more empowered.
Nashali Alma, 24, said she was exercising in her complex’s gym, about 12 miles northwest of downtown Tampa, in late January when a man who looked familiar to her needed access to the gym, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Alma said she let the man in because she had seen him in the gym before.
But as she was working out, Alma told investigators that the man approached her and grabbed her waist. Alma said she yelled at the man to get away from her but he kept chasing her around the gym, police said.
The man then pinned Alma to the floor, police said, but she continued to fight off her attacker and tried to call 911. When the man released his grip, Alma said she ran out of the gym to a nearby apartment.
Investigators tracked down the 25-year-old suspect the following day and arrested him on allegations of sexual abuse, kidnapping and false imprisonment.
Alma said she came forward after the incident because she hopes other women can draw some strength from her story.
“I would tell every woman always to keep fighting, never give up,” Alma told sheriff’s investigators.
“As long as you fight back and show him that you’re strong and you’re not giving up, I believe it’s possible to escape. It’s better to reach out to law enforcement sooner than later. The sooner they have the information, the sooner they can catch that person,” she said.
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