A seemingly ordinary paving job in Bolingbroke, Georgia, took a dramatic turn on December 19th, escalating into a chaotic brawl reminiscent of a scene from "The Sopranos," according to Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman. Six men from the Buckland family, all employed by the same paving company, are facing charges for allegedly assaulting members of a rival paving company, EH Paving.
Around 1 p.m., while EH Paving employees were working on a customer's driveway, several trucks arrived at the scene. Six members of the Buckland family emerged, armed with baseball bats, sticks, and other weapons, according to a police report. A 911 call reporting a "large fight" involving "bats and guns" brought deputies to the scene.
The owner of EH Paving alleges that Mark William Buckland Sr., 50, attempted to strike his son with a bat, while Willy Buckland Jr., 22, and Buckland Sr.'s son-in-law, James Small, 21, attacked his other son. He also claims Luke Buckland, 28, assaulted his nephew. The EH Paving owner believes the attack stemmed from his company performing work near a Buckland property, which the Bucklands perceived as disrespectful. He further alleges that Mark Buckland Sr. brandished a "cowboy-style" gun and pointed it at him.
The property owner, who contacted authorities, stated that an EH Paving employee fired a gun into a wooded area to try and stop the fight. In contrast, Mark Buckland Jr. claimed he was punched in the mouth and dismissed the incident as a "misunderstanding." Sheriff Freeman expressed surprise, noting the individuals involved are "adult men with pretty good reputations."
The Bucklands are facing a range of charges, including tampering with evidence, pointing a firearm, criminal trespass, simple battery, inciting to riot, and aggravated assault. All six men had been released as of Monday morning.
