A Georgia-based paving company allegedly wielded baseball bats, sticks, and lever-action rifles against a rival paving company when they saw the competitor completing a job near one of the employees’ homes.
Six members of the Buckland family were arrested after they reportedly bloodied and beat on employees from the rival EH Paving company at a job site, according to a report from the New York Post.
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman said the hit was “like something out of ‘The Sopranos.’”
The Buckland boys claimed that EH Paving was being “disrespectful” by working so close to one of the Bucklands’ houses.
The property owner who employed EH Paving told police that the argument began when the Bucklands confronted the EH Paving employees. Mark Buckland, the 77-year-old father, pulled a “long cowboy-style gun” and fired two rounds into the woods to allegedly intimidate the EH Paving men.
Mark Buckland Jr., the 58-year-old son, allegedly sparked a brawl moments later that left several workers bruised and banged up. Willy Buckland Sr. allegedly hit the son of EH Paving’s owner in the head with a bat.
Willy Buckland Jr., 22, allegedly joined in attacking the son. Luke Buckland, 28, also went after the nephew of EH Paving’s owner.
Three EH employees were harmed in the alleged hit job. One of them was reportedly hurt so badly that he threw up and was brought to the hospital.
Authorities charged Mark Buckland Sr. with criminal trespass, tampering with evidence, and pointing a gun at another person. Mark Buckland Jr. was charged with inciting a riot, criminal trespass, and simple battery. Willy Buckland Sr. was slapped with aggravated assault and criminal trespass.
The rest of the crew was charged with battery and criminal trespass. The instigators were released from jail within two days after posting bail.
EH Paving’s owner claims that this isn’t the first time that the Bucklands have attempted to start a Sopranos-style fight with EH workers.
