TAMPA, Fla. — Sheriff’s detectives fanned out across Tampa and the rest of Hillsborough County for two days this week to serve outstanding domestic violence warrants, and the roundup they called Operation Ghost Sting ended with 16 people in custody, the agency announced Thursday.
The sweep ran Oct. 12 and 13. Investigators who handle family violence cases worked alongside the agency’s warrant squad to find people with open domestic violence warrants anywhere in the county, and the agency timed the push to land during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Two of the arrests stood out in the agency’s summary because both men already had a record of similar cases this year. Karim Shereef, 28, was picked up on allegations that he bit, hit and choked a victim several times. Deputies have now arrested him on domestic violence allegations three times since May. Detectives said he moved to Hillsborough County recently and has earlier arrests in other states tied to domestic violence, drugs and guns.
Jonathon Jordan, 48, was sought on accusations that he hit a victim and then choked that person to the point of unconsciousness. His arrest is his third on domestic violence allegations since February. Both men now face charges of domestic battery and domestic battery by strangulation.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said every one of the warrants represents someone harmed by a person they trusted, and he urged people living in fear at home to reach out, saying help is available and a safer future is possible. The agency released the names of only two of the 16 people arrested.
Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone who knows where a person wanted on a domestic violence warrant can be found to call 813-247-8200.
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Filed under: Tampa FL Crime News
