Questions swirl over assault video on MAX train, suspects still sought

Reported by: Faris Tanyos

Email: ftanyos@koin.com

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Published: 1/10 5:06 pm

	KPAM interview with Julie Buckland, mother of the TriMet assault victim. Part I (3.1MB)
	KPAM interview with Julie Buckland, mother of the TriMet assault victim. Part 2 (3.6MB)

Portland police are investigating a YouTube video that shows a girl being assaulted on the MAX by what appears to be 3 teen girls.

The initial clip, dated Dec. 26, 2011, was removed by YouTube, for violating its "policy prohibiting hate speech." The alleged victim, 14-year-old Karley Buckland of Southeast Portland, spoke to KOIN Tuesday. She said the attack was unprovoked, and claims she did not know the suspects prior to the incident.

"I'm shocked... I was honestly confused, shocked. Why are these people doing this to me when I literally did nothing towards them…? These kids must have so much anger in them that they feel like they have to take it out on someone who’s innocent," Buckland said.

There has been mixed messages regarding law enforcement's response to the assault.

The victim’s mother, Julie Buckman, told the Bob Miller Show on KPAM Wednesday morning that she spoke to a transit police officer by phone immediately following the incident, who “made us believe it wasn’t that big of a situation. They really downplayed it.”

Roberta Altstadt, public information officer for TriMet, released this statement to KOIN Tuesday:

“TriMet did not receive a report of this incident when it happened. We were sent the video last week and forwarded it to the police. This remains an open police investigation.”

However, Mary Fetsch with TriMet Media Relations issued a clarification later that day:

"Our Command Center was alerted to the incident at the time of the altercation and requested police to respond. By the time they got there, the incident was over. TriMet did not receive a complaint on this."

On Wednesday, Fetsch said TriMet encountered technical issues with its own “on-board video” of the attack.

Fetsch said that at the time of the incident, the train operator contacted the TriMet Command Center, who then contacted police. The responding officer requested video from the train. However, after being downloaded, the video file could not be opened due to a technical issue.

Pete Simpson with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) confirmed that TriMet Transit Police are attempting to identify the suspects involved. Simpson says the victim “declined to press charges when contacted the day of the attack.”

-- Faris Tanyos

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Noctra - 1/14/2012 11:32 PM

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How is this not charged as a hate crime,KATU is saying that the police say this won;t be charged as a hate crime even though you can clearly hear the 3 doing the punching making reference to the girls race in the video. I can guarantee you if this was three white guys beating up a black guy and screaming the n word they would be charged with a hate crime so fast it would make your head spin. But it is not politically correct to charge black people with a hate crime. Can anybody recall the last time you heard of a BLACK person being charged with a hate crime in connection with an assault on a white person?

dodgeram - 1/12/2012 10:35 PM

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Just heard on FOX 12 at 22:31 on 1/12/12. They arrested 4 the mother 38yo and her two doughters 18yo and 16yo half sister and a 13 year old friend.

aquarian - 1/12/2012 6:09 PM

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I've only been riding the MAX for 10 months, but I can relate to those who have expressed concern about the lack of common decency, disrespect for others, & feeling of imminent violence exhibited every day on the MAX. From what I've seen & heard, this mindset crosses all racial boundaries -- but it's almost always people in their 20s and younger. They talk on their cell phones at the top of their voices with no regard to the poor person sitting next to them who really doesn't want to know their business; they drop the F-bomb every other word; and generally have no regard for anyone but themselves. This does not apply to all young people, mind you -- and I'm sure there are older people who exhibit the same poor behavior. Is this the result of Facebook, where you tell everyone your private business, no holds barred?

aquarian - 1/12/2012 5:56 PM

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Ripone - 1/12/2012 1:19 PM

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If they had separate white trains and black trains, I bet crime on the MAX would go down. Is that racist? Sure is... Is it an incorrect statement? Probably not... Black youth in this country are violent and without remorse, and at the same time carry a sense of entitlement. The numbers don't lie, prove me wrong.

caridukes - 1/12/2012 12:05 PM

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chocolate B: yes, there may well be a lot more to this story but whatever it is it shouldn't have involved this beating. ilovezotz: sounds like you hatesalot. reading your post...you quote bart simpson, you watch 24 hour sports and constantly trash any liberal thinking? bet you listen to Lars Larson too. small mind, big mouth.

dodgeram - 1/12/2012 11:11 AM

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@ Janvier, You are 100% correct in your assumption that this was a hate crime BUT you miss one big glaring point. Here in liberal left portland you can't be a victim of a hate crime if you are white and heterosexual sorry.

cak97123 - 1/12/2012 10:26 AM

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I think by trying to find the reason why this happened is just a small twig on a branch of violence that needs to be dealt with. Even I don't feel safe anymore and am always aware of my surroundings. I would have gone to jail at the same time as these thugs because I would have dropped em to the floor, placed them under citizens arrest and risked my own safety. I am not a vigilante, but I would have put myself into the situation. I don't know if I would have gotten stabbed, shot or ganged up on by friends of these THUGS, but I couldn't just turn a blind eye to violence such as this. Someone knows who these girls are. It won't be long before justice knocks on their front door.

ILOVEZOTZ - 1/12/2012 7:26 AM

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chocolate, your comment is funny. People who are usually suspicious of another race or the other "side" usually question evidence at hand if it damns them or whoever they tend to support. Whites do it, blacks do it, most ethnic groups do it. But from the video evidence it appears that these "girls" just decided to lay down a beating on this other girl, and they did so in part at LEAST because she was white. Mysterymachine, you are a trip. Snarky look or shoe comments? From some of your first posts that I've read, I've got a pretty good mental image of you.....and frankly it makes me scared for your generation. As janvier said, the audio clearly reveals some of or at least one of the assailants yelling white or white girl. mm, you need to try and objectively process information sometime. There's a whole 'nother world out there. It's called reality.

ChocolateB - 1/12/2012 12:47 AM

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This doesn't look like an "unprovoked" ass whooping to me!! There is more to this story......and I'd really like to know what it is!!

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