A Delray Beach man has been detained by law enforcement for an alleged attack on his wife that stemmed from an argument about their son's haircut. Drew G. Wertheimer, 34, faces a series of serious charges, including false imprisonment of an adult, aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability, and aggravated assault with a firearm.
The dispute reportedly originated when Wertheimer took issue with the length of one son's haircut, finding it not to be as short as his siblings'. According to CBS12, the altercation swiftly escalated, leading Wertheimer to punch his wife multiple times in the head in front of their children. The victim was then coerced to sit in a chair and was repeatedly hit with wooden utensils, details that were later confirmed through the evidence of broken kitchenware.
During the assault, the victim's attempts to leave were obstructed when Wertheimer confiscated her keys, essentially imprisoning her in their home, as revealed by arresting documents. The ordeal continued into the next day when she returned to their NW 14th Street home after Wertheimer's suicide threats. According to WPBF, he then resumed his assault and destroyed her phone, further attempting to prevent her from seeking help.
At one point, the accused is claimed to have drawn a firearm, threatening to harm himself and then turning the gun on his wife. The victim was eventually able to escape with their children and find refuge at a neighbor’s residence, where she made the call to authorities. Wertheimer was then apprehended on Tuesday afternoon and is now held in Palm Beach (County) Jail, awaiting further proceedings.
