Fishing-gear store owners accused of kidnapping, beating two men
LAKE PARK — A married couple who own a Lake Park fishing-equipment store and their son were in the Palm Beach County Jail on Thursday after they allegedly kidnapped and beat two men they accused of stealing from the business, according to sheriff ’s reports.
Delray Beach residents Daniel and Naomi Friedman, both 61, each face two counts of robbery with a firearm and false imprisonment.
Daniel Friedman, who is being held in lieu of $350,000 bail, also is facing two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Naomi Friedman, held on $153,000 bail, is accused of destroying evidence in the case.
Their son, Eric Friedman, 29, also of Delray Beach, was booked into the jail early Thursday on similar charges. A source familiar with the case said Wednesday the younger Friedman had been arrested in Miami.
A fourth person, Marc Ashley Kellener, 52, of Royal Palm Beach, also is facing robbery, kidnapping and evidence-destruction charges and is being held without bail.
The Friedmans own Just Fishing Tackle on Federal Highway near Kelsey Park. When sheriff’s deputies arrived there Aug. 16, they found Daniel Friedman holding a shotgun and standing over a 23-year-old man who had been beaten, a Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office report said.
The second man was also held against his will, deputies said.
Store employees told PBSO that the man confronted by Daniel Friedman allegedly had stolen a fishing reel worth about $500 on Aug. 8.
The sheriff ’s report states the Friedmans never notified law enforcement of the alleged theft.
On Aug. 16, Daniel and Eric Friedman allegedly called the man they accused of shoplifting “as a ruse/ploy to get them to come to the business to purchase an item,” the report said.
Once he and the other man arrived at the store, they allegedly were beaten and forced to turn over their cellphones, wallets and $1,180 in cash.
“Do you want to die today?” Daniel Friedman allegedly yelled at the 23-year-old man, who told deputies he was struck by a “blackjack” club while also being kicked and hit in the face with the shotgun.
Naomi Friedman and Kellener allegedly disabled the store’s video-surveillance system during the attack, deputies said.
When the video turned back on about two hours later, it allegedly caught Daniel Friedman, Eric Friedman and Kellener battering the men, the report said.
Stuart Kaplan, Daniel Friedman’s attorney, said his client and his wife are “law-abiding people” who were forced to defend themselves when the two men began acting in a “threatening and very menacing” manner inside the store.
Kaplan said the accusation that Daniel Friedman and his son lured the men to the store is a “complete distortion,” adding, “This is a very, very twisted and unfortunate situation.”