VERO BEACH —Two men are accused of pistol-whipping a man while pinning him down and kidnapping his girlfriend at a local home, police said.
Matthew Nichols, 29, of the 9400 block of 108th Avenue, Fellsmere, and Terry Parmer, 48, of Alabama, face a variety of charges including false imprisonment, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping with a firearm and more.
Matthew Nichols
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Terry Parmer PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Nichols was released Tuesday from the Indian River County Jail on $31,000 bail while Parmer is being held at the jail on $525,000 bond.
Police went to a home shortly after midnight Saturday in response to a possible abduction. Police spoke with a woman, who told them her roommates, Matt Nichols, Terry Parmer and a third man asked her to take them to a home on Sea Horse Lane so they could beat up a man who was house sitting for his uncle.
The man is the woman’s boyfriend, and the man told police he and his girlfriend have recently had relationship issues, police said.
The woman agreed to take the three men to the home. After arriving, the woman lured her boyfriend to the back patio, where Nichols, Parmer and a third man jumped out from the shadows and grabbed the man.
The three men forced the victim inside while the woman followed behind. Nichols held the man on the ground while Parmer pistol-whipped the man in the face and head, police said.
The three men asked the victim where the safe was, and the victim told them there was no safe. One of the men pointed a gun at the woman and said he would kill her if the victim didn’t tell them where the safe was located.
The victim again told the men there was no safe. So, the men grabbed the woman, ran out of the home and fled in the woman’s white Dodge Charger.
The victim told police that his girlfriend being involved in the attack “isn’t outside the realm of possibility.”
Her car was later found in Fellsmere, police said. Police spoke with the third man, who admitted he saw Nichols hold the victim down while Parmer pistol-whipped him.
Police also spoke with Nichols, who’s statement corroborated the detail of events from the third man. Nichols and Parmer were arrested and taken to the county jail for booking.
No further details were immediately available.