Outrage Over Attack On Autistic Man Prompts Petition

PALOS VERDES, CA – An online petition was started demanding that the district attorney fully prosecutes two teenagers accused of beating, kicking and mocking an autistic man. The petition, started by Jeffrey Frankel, blew past the original goal of 1,000 signatures and has 1,754 signatures as of Tuesday morning.

"We demand that the district attorney fully prosecutes Declan Bell-Wilson and Korey Streeter for beating, robbing and humiliating a defenseless autistic teen," the petition said. "NO PLEA BARGAINS! WE WANT A FULL JURY TRIAL!"

Streeter, 18, of Palos Verdes Estates, was released from jail Monday afternoon, according to sheriff's custody records. The other suspect in the case, Bell-Wilson, 18-year-old son of former Rolling Hills mayor Patrick Wilson, previously posted $80,000 bail, authorities said.

The two suspects were arrested last Thursday at their respective homes and booked at the sheriff's Lomita Station on suspicion of conspiracy, assault and robbery, according to Deputy Grace Medrano of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Video footage of two teens punching, kicking, mocking and robbing an autistic boy in Rolling Hills Estates surfaced last week on social media after a City Councilman's son was among two men arrested in the attack.

The attack occurred March 22 in a parking garage of the Promenade on the Peninsula shopping center. Video of the assault showed two men repeatedly punching the victim – described only as a young autistic man – as he laid on the ground in a fetal position, covering his head from the blows.

Authorities became aware of the video on March 25 after it was posted on social media. A second video of the attack showed the victim standing shirtless, being ordered to strip down to his underwear in front of others, Medrano said.

In addition to the arrests of Bell-Wilson and Streeter, several juveniles who were present at the time of the assault were also identified and detained, Medrano said.

Anyone with information about this beating was asked to call the sheriff's Lomita Station at (310) 539-1661 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Related Coverage:

Suspect In Beating Of Autistic Man Released From Jail

Councilman's Son Arrested In Taped Beating Of Autistic Man

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this post