Suspect In Beating Of Autistic Man Released From Jail

PALOS VERDES, CA – One of the two teens suspected of beating an autistic man inside a parking structure at a Rolling Hills Estates mall was released from custody Monday. Prosecutors are asking sheriff's detectives to conduct more investigation into the attack.

Korey Streeter, 18, of Palos Verdes Estates, was released from jail just before 3 p.m., according to sheriff's custody records.

Streeter tried to hide his face and avoided questions as he got into a vehicle and was driven away, according to video of his release.

The other suspect in the case, Declan Bell-Wilson, 18-year-old son of former Rolling Hills mayor Patrick Wilson, previously posted $80,000 bail, authorities said.

Streeter was released after the District Attorney's Office asked law enforcement for further investigation before a decision is made on whether to file charges against the pair of suspects, according to a spokesman for the office.

The two suspects were arrested 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.

Bell-Wilson was identified in media reports as the son of Patrick Wilson, a Rolling Hills Estates City Council member.

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 barrage of blows.

One of the men backs away while the other man kicked the motionless victim twice. Seconds later, the first man returns and goes through the victim's pockets. Several people are seen on the video standing by and watching, with at least one other person recording the assault, but none stepped in to help the victim.

Deputies 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: Mayor's Son Arrested In Taped Beating Of Autistic Man

City News Service contributed to this post