Luke Buckland

Name of Accused:
BUCKLAND, LUKE JAMES

Date of Arrest:
12/19/2024


Charges For Arrest:
SIMPLE BATTERY
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On Thursday, December 19th, 2024
, at 1302 I, Sergeant Thompson, along with all other deputies were dispatched to [10200 BLOCK] Estes Road in reference to a large fight. Dispatch advised the 911 caller stated there were bats and guns involved in the fight.
I arrived on scene and noticed a large group of males walking back towards Estes Road from up the driveway. There were trucks blocking one lane of traffic. One truck was EH Paving’s vehicle. One vehicle was marked with Houston Asphalt (white work truck with work bed). One vehicle was a black Dodge Ram (work bed). The last truck was a black Chevrolet 1500.
I exited my patrol vehicle and began walking to the driveway of [10200 BLOCK] Estes Road. While walking to the end of the driveway I witnessed a metal bat being thrown into the wood line as well as a dark brown stick being thrown into the wood line. I recognized several of the males in the group walking back to the truck. Willy Buckland Sr, Mark Buckland Jr and Mark Buckland Sr. The owner of the property began telling me that the group walking towards me attacked a group of men he had paving his driveway.
I began telling the men to stop and not walk away until I figured out what was going on. Mark Buckland Sr and Willy Buckland were able to make it back to their vehicles before I was able to get them back in sight where I could keep an eye on them. Willy Buckland Sr walked away again, and I had to get him out of a red Chevrolet SSR truck that was riding by.
I asked Mark Buckland Jr what happened. I knew that Mark owned Houston Asphalt, his father Mark Sr and Willy Sr owned an asphalt company as well. The paving company on scene working did not belong to any of them. Mark Jr stated he was punched in the mouth. I asked Mark Jr what the purpose of his family being on scene was. Mark Jr was unable to give me and explanation and just stated “just a misunderstanding.” I asked Mark if he was driving the white truck with “Houston Asphalt” on the truck. Mark Jr stated he was driving the vehicle.
Also in the group was Mark Jr’s son Luke Buckland (blue pullover), Willy’s son Willy Jr (dark green pullover) and Willy’s son-in-law James Small (black and white checkered shirt). All three of these males were breathing heavy and had leaves and grass on their clothing. Mark Jr had a small amount of blood on his lips and Luke had small cut/scratch on his face near his lip.
I asked the property owner and complainant [VICTIM ] what happened. [VICTIM ] stated he had a paving company paving his driveway when three trucks of men pulled up, stopped in the roadway, exited their vehicle with bats and sticks and began a verbal altercation with the paving company he had hired. [VICTIM ] stated the men paving his driveway backed up the driveway and attempted to retreat until there was nowhere to go. [VICTIM ] stated the bed were swinging bats and hitting the men. [VICTIM ] stated one man from the EH Paving removed a gun and shot it into the woods in an attempt to get the men (Buckland’s) to quit fighting. [VICTIM ] stated the man did not point the gun at anyone he just shot the gun one time into the woods in an attempt to stop the men from hurting someone.
I identified and the owner of EH Paving [VICTIM ]. [VICTIM ] was shaking and stated he was scared Mark Sr was going to shoot him due to Mark Sr pulling a long “cowboy style pistol” out and pointing it in his face. [VICTIM ] stated Willy Buckland Sr hit his son in the head with a bat. [VICTIM ] also stated Willy Jr and the guy in the black and white checkered shirt (James Small) jumped on his other son [VICTIM ] and struck him multiple times with fist and a bat. [VICTIM ] stated Luke Buckland struck his nephew [VICTIM ] with a bat. [VICTIM ] stated he has had problems with the Buckland’s in several different cities on different jobs. [VICTIM ] stated they have shown up in Griffin and Macon on jobsites causing a scene. [VICTIM ] stated the main reason for the fight today was due to the paving so close to [REDACTED]’s house and the Buckland’s found it “disrespectful” that they got the job.
I spoke with [VICTIM ] who stated he pulled the gun from his truck once he saw things were getting out of hand and he saw Mark Sr with a “long cowboy style gun” pointed at his uncle. [VICTIM ] stated he shot the gun once in the ground towards the woods away from everyone in an attempt to get their attention and make them leave.
I spoke with [VICTIM ] and asked him about what happened. [VICTIM ] stated he was attacked by James Small and Willy Jr. [VICTIM ] stated he was struck in the head with something other than a fist but was unsure as to what he was hit with. [VICTIM ] had a knot on his head behind his ear.
I spoke with [VICTIM ] and asked him what happened. [VICTIM ] stated the guys pulled up on their job site and began fighting with the crew he was working with. [VICTIM ] stated he was struck in the head by a silver in color metal baseball bat by Willy Sr in the lime green shirt. [VICTIM ] began throwing up and was lightheaded. I had EMS come check [VICTIM ] out and make sure he was ok. [VICTIM ] was encouraged to get transported by EMS to have further evaluation, but [VICTIM ] stated he wanted his father to take him.
Mark Buckland Sr, Mark Buckland Jr, Luke Buckland, Willy Buckland, Willy Buckland Jr and James Small were all arrested on scene and transported to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
I photographed the scene, weapons located, a firearm located in the black Chevrolet 1500 and injuries sustained. I did not locate the large “cowboy style gun” while on scene.
I received a call from [VICTIM ] later after the scene was cleared was cleared up. [VICTIM ] stated someone stopped by and asked what happened. [VICTIM ] explained to them what had taken place. [VICTIM ] stated the driver told him they saw Mark Sr put a gun in a red sport truck while we were on scene.
I located the red truck using Flock cameras and identified the owner of the truck as [REDACTED]. I went to [REDACTED]’s residence and spoke with him about the incident. [REDACTED] stated he did stop, and Willy Sr got in his vehicle and asked him for a ride before a cop told him to get out of the truck. [REDACTED] stated he did not have a gun in his truck and allowed me to look. [REDACTED] stated he did not see a gun that was placed in his vehicle by Mark Sr or Willy Sr.
Mark Buckland Sr was charged with Criminal Trespass, Pointing a Pistol at another and Tampering with Evidence.
Mark Buckland Jr was charged with Criminal Trespass, Simple Battery and Inciting a Riot.
Willy Buckland Sr was charged with Criminal Trespass and Aggravated Assault.
Willy Buckland Jr was charged with Criminal Trespass and Simple Battery.
Luke Buckland was charged with Criminal Trespass and Simple Battery.
James Small was charged with Criminal Trespass and Simple Battery.
[End of Narrative]