Six members of a Georgia family in the asphalt business have been accused of attacking workers from a rival paving company with sticks and bats during a heated confrontation. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened in broad daylight because the family felt disrespected.
What Happened
On December 19, around 1 p.m., a property owner on Estes Road in Bolingbroke called 911 to report that a group of men in three trucks had arrived and started arguing with employees from EH Paving, who were working on his driveway. The group, armed with sticks and bats, allegedly began attacking the workers... Continue reading here ▶
The workers from EH Paving tried to retreat but found themselves cornered, according to the property owner. One of them fired a gun into the woods to stop the attack.
Eddie Harrison, the owner of EH Paving, said he feared for his life when 77-year-old Mark Buckland Sr. pointed a long “cowboy-style pistol” in his face. Harrison also alleged that:
- Willy Buckland Sr. hit his son in the head with a bat.
- Willy Jr. and James Small attacked his other son, Eddie Harrison Jr., with fists and a bat.
- Luke Buckland struck his nephew, Eddie Jack Harrison, with a bat.
The alleged reason for the confrontation, according to one of the victims, was that the Bucklands found it “disrespectful” that EH Paving got the job so close to their family member’s home.
Arrests and Charges
The six men arrested in connection with the attack are:
- Mark Buckland Sr., 77: Charged with criminal trespass, pointing a pistol at another person, and tampering with evidence.
- Mark Buckland Jr., 58: Charged with criminal trespass, simple battery, and inciting a riot.
- Willy Buckland Sr., 50: Charged with criminal trespass and aggravated assault.
- Willy Buckland Jr., 22: Charged with simple battery and criminal trespass.
- Luke Buckland, 28: Charged with simple battery and criminal trespass.
- James Small, 21: Charged with simple battery and criminal trespass.
All six were released on bond after spending two days in jail. It is unclear if they have hired attorneys.
Sheriff’s Comments
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman described the attack as something “out of the Sopranos TV series” and expressed surprise, saying, “These are adult men with pretty good reputations.”
Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Anna Greene Watkins added, “Things like this usually do not happen here in Monroe County.”
Background
The Bucklands own several asphalt companies in the area, including Houston Asphalt in Macon, which is owned by Mark Buckland Jr., according to the incident report.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further information has been provided at this time.