Name:
Rayburn, Buford Ray
Date of Booking:
08/30/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault
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 Tuesday August 29, 2023, I Deputy Harris Badge #125, Deputy County Sheriff’s Office, along with Deputy Moore Badge #288, was dispatched to [3600 BLOCK] Landing Court Douglasville, Georgia 30135 in reference to a caller concerned for her brother’s suicidal thoughts. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch advised a caller informed Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch that her brother was making suicidal statements while wielding a knife.
Upon arrival, contact was made with [VICTIM #1] and Buford Ray Raymond. The two were having a verbal altercation, where [VICTIM #1] was stating that he was about to “knock his a*s out,” pointing to Buford. Deputy Moore escorted Buford out to the back deck while [VICTIM #1] was told to wait in the living room. [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2] were also in the living room.
While Deputy Moore spoke with Buford outside, I spoke with [WITNESS #2] in the kitchen, who advised the following: [WITNESS #2] stated that he is Buford’s first cousin. He also stated that Buford had broken his own phone, and that Buford was outside talking to his sister [REDACTED] on [WITNESS #2]’s phone, while Deputy Moore was talking to Buford.
Contact was then made with [VICTIM #1], who advised the following: [VICTIM #1] stated that he and [WITNESS #2] had left earlier to go to the store. Before they left, Buford was running around the outside of the house, pulling his hair and yelling. [VICTIM #1] stated that Buford was saying that he “hated us” and that “he didn’t want us there,” speaking about himself and [WITNESS #2].
[VICTIM #1] also stated that Buford called the Suicide Hotline while he and [WITNESS #2] were at the store. Buford’s sister called [WITNESS #2] and told him that Buford had called the Suicide Hotline, so [VICTIM #1] and [WITNESS #2] came back home to find Buford making something to eat, while holding a large kitchen knife in his hand. [VICTIM #1] stated that Buford “came at me” with the knife.
[VICTIM #1] stated that Buford was waving the knife around in his direction before dropping it. [VICTIM #1] stated then that Buford grabbed a handful of kitchen knives in each hand and was waving them around. Both [WITNESS #2] and [WITNESS #1] confirmed [VICTIM #1]’s story. [VICTIM #1] also stated that Buford is on Probation for “putting a knife through the door.” [VICTIM #1] claims that Buford’s drinking is a violation of his probation.
[VICTIM #1] stated that Code Enforcement had recently been called out to the residents at [3600 BLOCK] Landing Court ([VICTIM #1] is not a resident) and told them that their property needed to be be cleaned up. [VICTIM #1] had arrived at the residence on Tuesday August 29, 2023 to assist with the yard clean up. [VICTIM #1] stated that he is over at the house most days, helping with a soup kitchen that the homeowner runs.
Deputy Moore attempted to get a story from Buford, but Buford was highly intoxicated from alcoholic beverage. Buford stated that [VICTIM #1] got in his face and put his finger on his nose, but there was no witnesses to this claim. Buford also stated that he did not have thoughts of hurting himself, but he did laugh when asked if he was having thoughts of hurting others, to which he responded “no.”
I acknowledged that I had sufficient probable cause to place Buford under arrest for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Buford was placed in handcuff restraints, before being placed in the backseat of my service vehicle, #131. Victim/Witness statement forms were given to [WITNESS #1], [WITNESS #2] and [VICTIM #1].
The forms were completed, then I collected them and placed them in the appropriate box in the Second Floor Patrol Room at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to be scanned and added to this report. The knife that was used to assault [VICTIM #1] was collected by myself and logged into evidence.
A warrant for the arrest of Buford Ray Raymond for the charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon was completed and placed in the tray and logged in the warrant book in the Second Floor Patrol Room at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
I departed the residence with Buford in custody and transported him to the Douglas County Jail, where I completed his book in card and he was evaluated by jail medical personnel. Buford was then turned over to jail staff. I departed the Douglas County Jail and returned to patrol duties.
[End of Narrative]