Fairchild Airman Stabbed In Valley

A fight at a Spokane Valley apartment complex involving nearly 30 people ended early Sunday with a stabbing and four arrests.

The stabbing victim, a 30-year-old airman from Fairchild Air Force Base, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a minor wound in his side, according to the sheriff’s department.

Four people were arrested, including three on felony charges.

Booked into the Spokane County Jail were: Ezell J. McClendon, 19, for third-degree assault; Mark A. Partelow, 30, for second-degree assault and attempted second-degree assault; and Debra A. Graham, 39, for attempted second-degree assault.

Nataline J. Sanders, 36, was arrested for obstructing justice, a gross misdemeanor, and released.

Alcohol appears to have been involved, said sheriff’s Deputy David Reagan.

The airman, who was not identified, was released from the hospital Sunday evening, said Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Kelly.

The melee started about 11:40 p.m. Saturday at an apartment complex at 6321 E. Fourth. Someone grabbed the buttocks of a woman at a birthday party in one of the apartments, prompting a fight between McClendon and a 16-year-old boy, Reagan said.

As the fight was breaking up, the airman stepped in to help separate the two and was allegedly stabbed by Partelow, Reagan said.

A second fight ensued. When Deputy Tom Edelbrock arrived, about 30 people were shoving each other in the parking lot. Several people had blood on their faces and clothing, Reagan said.

Edelbrock noticed the airman clutching his side, and ordered the two most aggressive combatants to lay on the ground.

Partelow refused, walked toward Edelbrock and swung a knife at the deputy, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in District Court. Edelbrock responded by hitting Partelow in the knee with a collapsible baton, Reagan said.

“He was ordering him to, ‘Get down on the ground! Get down on the ground!”’ Reagan said. “He was advancing on him.”

The first blow failed to drop Partelow, Reagan said. Edelbrock hit Partelow a second time in the upper torso and the suspect dropped the knife and fell to the ground, Reagan said.

A second man then charged Edelbrock, who also fended him off with the baton. That man escaped and was not found, Reagan said.

Another deputy and a Washington State Patrol trooper arrived moments later, and the fight was stopped.

Partelow was arrested for stabbing the airman and charging at Edelbrock; McClendon for his part in the first fight; and Graham and Sanders for incidents after the fights stopped, Reagan said.

Graham went inside her apartment to get a towel for her brother, the airman who was stabbed. She returned with a towel draped over her left hand, and dropped the towel to reveal a butcher knife, Reagan said.

“All she would say was Mark (Partelow) had stabbed her brother and we weren’t doing enough about it,” Reagan said.

Graham then raised the knife above her head and charged at Partelow, Reagan said. She was about 10 feet from Partelow when Edelbrock convinced her to drop the knife, Reagan said.

Sanders was arrested when she interfered while officers questioned witnesses, participants and victims, Reagan said. She allegedly yelled at officers, her arms flailing, and ignored their orders to lay on the ground. She was not booked into jail.

“Apparently this all stemmed from an alleged sexual touching of a female at the party,” Reagan said.

, DataTimes