Men not charged in Huntington Beach restaurant employee’s beating
Two men arrested last month on suspicion of beating a restaurant employee into unconsciousness in Huntington Beach will not be charged with crimes after new evidence was brought to light, authorities said Friday.
It was originally believed, based on witness accounts, that the men initiated the conflict, but detectives have since determined through video evidence and other interviews that that wasn’t the case, police said.
Officers responded around 1 a.m. March 11 to Thunder Burgrz and Pizza at 126 Main St. and found Garret Peterson, an employee of the restaurant, unconscious with a serious head injury, police said.
Peterson was taken to a hospital.
Bryce Anthony Mezich, 21, and Austin Wright Callan, 22, both of Anaheim, were arrested.
Police now say Peterson escalated the altercation through “verbal confrontation” and committed “battery” on one of the other men.
Police submitted the case to the Orange County district attorney’s office, which declined to file charges against any of the men involved, police said.
A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Peterson’s medical expenses had raised more than $10,000 as of mid-March but wasn’t available online late Friday afternoon.
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
