4 in Custody in Facebook Live Torture Case: Police

CHICAGO, IL — Charges are expected soon against four people after a disturbing video emerged showing several young African-American adults tormenting a mentally disabled Crystal Lake teen who is tied up in a room with duct tape across his mouth. As the alleged captors cut off the man’s clothes, they repeatedly call him “Donald Trump.”

Authorities are considering hate crime charges against the four black suspects accused of holding the 18-year-old Crystal Lake man, who is white, against his will in a Chicago apartment for at least 24 hours and possibly as long as 48 hours, according to media reports. The Tuesday attack was broadcast on Facebook live and is making national headlines.

Three of the suspects are from Chicago and one is from Carpentersville. The suspects--two women and two men--are all teens and all currently in custody, the Northwest Herald reports.

The victim was found by Chicago Police Department officers walking down the 3400 block of West Lexington Avenue on Tuesday, Jan. 3. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Chicago Police late Wednesday said the man is mentally challenged.

Later on Tuesday, around 5:26 p.m., officers responded to a battery at a residence in the 3300 block of West Lexington, where police said they found signs of struggle and property damage. Officers were able to link the video to the disoriented man.

Warning: Graphic content and language

Please RT & DL. Brittany Herring of Chicago posted this on FB. Kidnapping and torturing Trump supporter @Chicago_Police @FBIChicago pic.twitter.com/PUyByYKWIu
— cbanks420lol (@cbanks420lol2) January 4, 2017

Police soon became aware of a social media video showing an adult male being battered and bullied, whom they believe to be the same individual.

The alleged female captor smokes what appears to be a blunt and narrates most of the action on what is believed to be a Facebook live video. The captive man is shown briefly tied up and bound with duct tape. A male captor cuts off the man’s clothing and some of his hair with a knife.

The men make references to “Donald Trump B---- A--.” The female comments, “My baby sister doesn’t think this is funny.” In the background, another woman’s voice is heard, as are several male voices hooting and hollering.

• watch the Chicago Police press conference on Periscope

The victim is from Crystal Lake, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The man is mentally disabled and appeared to be in his late teens or early 2os, detectives told the newspaper.

He is recovering in the hospital in stable condition.

Lorraine Swanson contributed to this article