Florida Man Swims to Island After Allegedly Choking Girlfriend

Jeriel Joiner has been arrested and charged with aggravated battery after allegedly hitting his girlfriend in the head with a bottle of vodka, choking her and fleeing to an island along the Intracoastal Waterway.

A Florida man has been arrested and charged with aggravated battery after he allegedly hit his girlfriend in the head with a bottle of vodka, choked her and fled.

Jeriel Joiner, 32, was arrested on June 23 after he swam to an island along the Intracoastal Waterway on the state's Atlantic coast, according to the Port Orange Police Department.

Florida Man Swims to Island After Allegedly Choking Girlfriend

Police said Joiner's girlfriend called 911 around 10 p.m. on June 22 to report that she had been assaulted by Joiner. The woman told police that Joiner had hit her in the head with a bottle of vodka, choked her and then fled the scene.

Bystanders who saw Joiner chasing the woman were temporarily able to pin him to the ground "to prevent Joiner from causing more harm," the Port Orange Police Department said on social media.

Florida Man Swims to Island After Allegedly Choking Girlfriend

However, Joiner was able to break free and flee the scene.

Police said Joiner swam to an island along the Intracoastal Waterway, where he hid inside a tent.

Florida Man Swims to Island After Allegedly Choking Girlfriend

Police searched the island for several hours before finding Joiner hiding inside the tent.

Joiner was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, domestic battery by strangulation and felony battery.

Florida Man Swims to Island After Allegedly Choking Girlfriend

Joiner's girlfriend was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. Police said she likely broke an arm during the confrontation.

Joiner is being held in the Volusia County Jail without bond.

The incident is still under investigation.

Body camera footage released by the Port Orange Police Department shows officers being taken to the island on a Florida Fish and Wildlife boat and Joiner being arrested after he was found hiding inside a tent.

In the footage, officers can be heard ordering Joiner to come out of the tent with his hands up. Joiner initially refuses, but eventually complies.

Officers then handcuff Joiner and lead him away from the tent.

The footage also shows Joiner being transported back to the mainland on the Florida Fish and Wildlife boat.

Joiner has a history of domestic violence, according to police.

In 2015, Joiner was arrested for domestic battery after he allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face.

Joiner was also arrested for domestic battery in 2017 and 2018.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are resources available to help.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence can be reached at 1-800-500-1119.