JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The search is on for a Jacksonville man with a criminal history who’s suspected of breaking into a home and attacking someone inside, authorities said Friday.
Christopher Broadwell, 35, is wanted on a warrant charging him with burglary, felony battery, false imprisonment and witness tampering, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Duval County court records show Broadwell has a history of arrests and convictions for domestic violence.
The Sheriff’s Office said Broadwell forced his way into a home off Monument Road on Monday, attacked someone who lives there and kept them from leaving or calling 911.
In March 2018, Broadwell was charged with battery after he was accused of punching a woman in the mouth as she tried to get his girlfriend away from him, but prosecutors dropped that charge. He also served five months in prison after pleading guilty in 2013 to a felony battery charge. The year before that he was charged with battery, but that case was abandoned. He was also convicted of domestic battery earlier that year.
Reached by phone on Friday, Broadwell’s father had no comment on the case.
News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said it’s critical for police to arrest Broadwell sooner than later.
“He has a violent history, according to his arrests,” Jefferson said. “He’s not one to appear to cooperate with law enforcement, so law enforcement is going to have to be on high alert as well when they are trying to apprehend him.”
A man who lives near where the latest crime is alleged to have happened did not recognize Broadwell’s picture, but said he plans to keep an eye out for him.
“I have a pregnant girlfriend upstairs, so I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for this guy,” the man said. “I’m not too comfortable with that at all.”
Anyone who has seen Broadwell or has knowledge of his whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling 904-630-050 or via email at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org.