Two accused of beating, kidnapping man in custody, victim still missing
BROWARD COUNTY He was beaten inside a gas station, restrained in chains, then dragged to a car and kidnapped, all on surveillance video.
The man — identified by the Broward Sheriff’s Office as 43-year-old Kevin Lee — was still missing when the two men charged with his abduction made their initial court appearances Wednesday.
Kenneth Ronaldor Douglas, 36, and Terrail Anthony Jenkins, 31, were arrested between 2:30 and 3 a.m. Wednesday for false imprisonment-kidnapping. Jenkins was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest, court records show.
The incident unfolded about noon Tuesday when Lee, who investigators say is homeless, was assaulted at the Shell gas station at 2701 W. Sunrise Blvd. just outside Fort Lauderdale.
In a surveillance photo of the assault released Tuesday night, Lee appears to be in distress.
He’s about 5-foot-6, weighs about 150 lbs. and was last seen wearing a black, long-sleeve shirt with the word “Champion” across the front, gray sweat pants and black and white sneakers.
“The suspects restrained the victim and fled with him in a vehicle,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman Keyla Concepción said in a press release.
One of the kidnappers was found with the vehicle shortly after the incident and the other person was eventually located, the sheriff ’s office said.
“But the victim has not been found,” Concepción said. “Detectives fear the man could be hurt or in need of medical assistance.”
At Douglas’ court appearance, Assistant
Broward Public Defender Dale Miller suggested that Lee was not a completely innocent victim.
“The two parties involved believe that this person who they allegedly abducted had committed
Terrail Anthony Jenkins (left), and Kenneth Ronaldor Douglas are charged with false imprisonmentkidnapping, court records show.
some sort of property crime against a member of their family and they were simply trying to attempt to recover that property,” he said. “So, the intent here is not to terrorize or to inflict bodily harm but rather to recover stolen property.”
Broward Judge Jackie Powell questioned that characterization after viewing, in court, the gas station’s surveillance video.
“So, a person chained several times with chains [around his neck] and chains around his hands, being dragged and pushed into a car by someone is not grounds for a finding of kidnapping?” she said. “Is that what you’re saying? Because they were trying to retrieve something?”
Miller emphasized the intent was not to terrorize or beat the man but to recover whatever was stolen.
“And, punching the person in the face and dragging them on the ground is not grounds for bodily harm?” Powell added.
Douglas and Jenkins were ordered to remain in jail without bond.
Investigators ask anyone who recognizes the man who was beaten and kidnapped to contact Violent Crimes Unit Detective Tiberio Barbosa at 954-321-4200. Tips can also be given, anonymously, to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org for the possibility of a reward of up to $3,000.