Federal lawsuit alleges bounty hunters harassed CEO of Concordia over estranged son's whereabouts

The president and CEO of Concordia Lutheran Ministries on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against the state police and a bail bonds agency contending that they illegally searched his Butler County home and ransacked another while looking for his estranged son.

Keith Frndak, along with his wife Diane, who teaches at Robert Morris University, filed the complaint against state police Cpl. Gregory Bogan; Liberty Bail Bonds Inc.; Anthony McKay, who claims to be a bounty hunter with Liberty, and an unknown man who also served as a bounty hunter with Liberty.

The lawsuit includes claims for violating the couple’s rights to be free from illegal searches and violating their property rights; invasion of privacy; assault; intentional infliction of emotional distress; as well as their right to be free from threats.

The Frndaks say the state police “acting under color of law” and the two bounty hunters “conspired to engage in an extortion scheme ” in which they conducted illegal searches, ransacked their homes, threatened them with arrest and threatened to have their minor grandchildren removed by the authorities.

On Friday afternoon, McKay defended his actions, saying they only went to the Frndaks’ home once.

“You sign a bond for your son and hide him out in your apartment buildings because you own 150 of them, we have every right to go knock on your door,” he said. “When you sign a bond, you surrender your rights.

“I can go to his house a million times and knock on his door.”

Attorney Alexander Lindsay, who represents the Frndaks said he could not comment.

The Frndaks’ son, Nathan, 39, was charged in March 2018 with fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and other traffic counts, according to the lawsui.

His bond was set at $5,000, and it was posted Jan. 29, 2019, through Liberty, with Keith Frndak co-signing.

The lawsuit notes that the father and son have an estranged relationship and rarely have contact.

According to Nathan Frndak’s criminal court docket sheet, a notice of bond forfeiture was filed June 21, and the bail agency asked permission from the court to apprehend him on July 19, which was granted on July 22 by Judge Timothy F. McCune.

About two months later, on Sept. 11, 2019, the complaint alleges that Keith Frndak began receiving calls and text messages from McKay, in which he identified himself as a detective. McKay accused Keith Frndak of hiding his son and demanded that he either turn him over or pay $5,000.

The lawsuit alleges that when Frndak did not comply, McKay threatened him.

“Since you like to play games and hide your son and you want to keep on making up stories I’m going to bring the news out to your work and we’re going to put you on the news fur (sic) hindering apprehension of your son,’” McKay allegedly wrote about 3 p.m. on Sept. 11.

Four days later, McKay wrote, at 8:26 a.m. the lawsuit said, “’I hope you found ur son or I’ll see you Monday morning at your work.’”

Then, on Sept. 27, 2019, McKay texted: “’Hopefully you will have some info on your son we’ll be passing these flyers out today at ur work, we appreciate you not cooperating”

On Nov. 18, McKay allegedly wrote: “’I decided to send a picture of ur sons wanted photo to everyone on ur fb, since you do want to help out’… “Don’t want to help out.’”

About three weeks later, on Dec. 8, Diane Frndak was in the couple’s bedroom preparing a final exam, while her husband and their two grandchildren were in the living room. At 6:24 p.m., the lawsuit said, Bogan and two bounty hunters barged in the front door past one of the children.

“‘We are here to do a search for your son,’” Bogan allegedly told them. “‘You are harboring a fugitive.’”

Keith Frndak suggested they speak outside to not traumatize the kids, the complaint said, but one of the bounty hunters responded, the lawsuit said, “‘This is happening now. We are here to search the house for your son, Nathan. We are searching this house, or we are taking you to jail.’”

Frndak responded, “’You know he is not here.’”

When Diane Frndak heard the commotion, the complaint continued, she entered the living room and demanded identification. Bogan showed a laminated card that read “Pennsylvania State Police,” but had no picture. No badge was produced, according to the lawsuit.

Bogan said to Diane Frndak: “‘I have had about enough out of you, one more word and I am going to arrest you and have your husband removed. I will place you in the car.’”

Bogan continued “’I will call CYS to pick up the kids.’”

When Diane Frndak asked if they had a search warrant, Bogan told her he didn’t need one because there was an arrest warrant out for her son.

They then went on to search the entire house, the complaint said.

During the search, Bogan allegedly approached Keith Frndak and said, “’So, Mr. College, I checked you out and you make lots of money and look down on me. I went to college, too. Are you one of those people who look down on cops?’”

Bogan then continued, the complaint said, “’If he is in a Concordia property I will make this front page.’”

Concordia is an organization that provides health care and residential services to seniors. According to its website, it operates 17 residential facilities and is one of the 100 largest senior care providers in the country.

After the men left without Nathan Frndak, the lawsuit accuses the defendants of then going to another home owned by the Frndaks in Winfield Township, entering by force and breaking furniture inside and disabling all of the security cameras except for one.

The next night, the complaint continued, McKay texted Keith Frndak and said, ‘“Why don’t you just pay the bond and fees to liberty bail bonds, and we wont bother you anymore or surrender you son and pay to rebond him out and have less headaches, happy holidays.’”

On Dec. 10, Keith Frndak paid $5000 to Liberty Bail Bonds.

A man at Liberty said Friday afternoon he had no comment. A message to the state police spokesman in Harrisburg was not immediately returned.

“We went with the state police,” McKay said. “We did everything like we were supposed to.”