Palos Verdes

Two Arrested on Suspicion of Beating of Autistic Man in Rolling Hills Estates

Two 18-year-olds were arrested Friday in connection with the beating of a man with autism inside a parking structure of the Promenade on the Peninsula shopping center in Rolling Hills Estates.

Declan Bell-Wilson, of Rolling Hills, and Korey Streeter, of Palos Verdes Estates, were taken into custody 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.

The attack occurred March 22.

Video of the assault showed two men repeatedly punching the victim as he laid on the ground in a fetal position, covering his head from the barrage of blows.

One of the men backs away and, as the victim laid motionless, the other man kicked him 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, at least one other person recording the assault, but none step 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.

Both suspects were being held on $80,000 bail.

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.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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