3 men ‘dump’ victim in west county after beating, kidnapping

Three men are suspected of beating a fourth man at a Palm Bay home for several hours, putting him in the trunk of a car and dumping him on the side of the road in western Indian River County, according to police and court documents.

The victim told police the suspects called him a snitch while beating him, said Palm Bay police spokesman Steve Bland. Police think the incident might be drug related, but narcotics or drug paraphernalia have not been recovered.

Derek Munnings and David Grey-Taylor, both 23, and Tivy Colderwood, 22, all of Palm Bay, each were charged with kidnapping inflicting bodily harm. Munnings has additional charges of sexual battery and aggravated battery causing bodily harm while Colderwood has an additional charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The victim, who was hospitalized, also was taken to the jail afterwards for an active warrant for violation of probation, Bland said.

The victim had serious injuries to his face, arms and back. His identity was not released.

Bland said police got a call from Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne early Jan. 11 about a man who was found on the side of the road at County Road 512 and State Road 60. Police spoke to the man, who said he was beaten at a home in Palm Bay, taken to Indian River County and dumped on the side of the road.

The man said he flagged down a truck driver, who then called 911. Indian River County Fire Rescue took the man to the hospital.

The suspects are roommates with the victim at the home, where the beating took place, court documents show.

“More than four people stayed there, on an on-and-off basis,” Bland said.

The victim said he and two of the suspects were at the home Jan. 10 when they “accused him of being a snitch.” Munnings punched the victim in the face several times with a closed fist while Colderwood struck him in the head repeatedly with a revolver.

The two men took the victim to the garage, bound his hands and feet with rope and continued to beat him. Munnings then sexually battered the victim, court documents show.

Grey-Taylor arrived at the home later and the three men put the victim in the trunk of his car. The three suspects then drove him to western Indian River County and dumped him on the side of the road.

The suspects left the area after they saw a vehicle coming in their direction. Police think the suspects intended to kill the victim that night.

All three suspects remained at the Brevard County Jail late Tuesday, according to jail documents. Colderwood has $72,500 bond, Grey-Taylor has $35,000 bond and Munnings has $120,000 bond.

Details on if the victim is still at the jail were not available.

This story will be updated.