Fairgrounds Stabbing Gets Fbi Review Federal Civil Rights Charges Depend On Agency’s Report

A federal civil rights complaint centered around the stabbing of a former University High School student has been referred to the FBI.

Jim Connelly, U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington, said Wednesday he expects a report in the next three weeks on the investigation into the Sept. 7 stabbing.

He declined to give details of the complaint, filed late last year, because it is under investigation.

A decision whether to file charges will be made after the FBI report has been reviewed, Connelly said.

Tim Buchanan, 17, was stabbed in the parking lot of the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds by Karen Beeman during a fight with Beeman’s son, Tristan.

Karen Beeman told police she believed her son was in danger and needed her protection. Witnesses said she sprayed Buchanan with Mace, he punched her in the face and she stabbed him with a double-edged boot knife.

Spokane County prosecutors declined to charge Beeman, saying her claims of self-defense appeared valid.

Buchanan is black and Beeman, who is light-skinned, said she is of Samoan descent.

Members of Unity in Action, a Spokane human rights group, have said they believe Beeman would have been charged with a crime if Buchanan were white.

Earlier this week, the group asked county commissioners to use their budgetary authority to convince Prosecuting Attorney Jim Sweetser to file charges.

, DataTimes