Viral Landfill Confrontation in Haywood County Sparks Outrage and Investigations

Haywood County --  August 1, 2025: A recent altercation at a private landfill in Haywood County, North Carolina, captured in a series of viral TikTok videos, has ignited national outrage, prompted multiple investigations, and brought intense scrutiny to issues of workplace conduct, use of authority, and public safety.

The incident, which unfolded on June 28, 2025, at the "TBD landfill" in Canton, involved a Black truck driver and a group of men, including an employee of Wright Brothers Construction Company who is also a part-time Haywood County deputy.

The Viral Videos and Allegations

The videos, initially posted on TikTok by the truck driver, known as "BossedUpp Ent," quickly garnered millions of views. Though the original videos were later removed by the driver on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, citing a need for "healing and peace of mind," copies and reactions continue to circulate widely across social media platforms.

The footage depicts a heated and aggressive confrontation. According to the truck driver's account and what is visible in the videos:

The incident began when the driver, making a mulch delivery to the private Two Banks Development landfill, arrived approximately 45 minutes before its 6:30 AM opening time. Despite an initial understanding with a site employee, the situation escalated.

A group of white men, some in construction-style attire and displaying Wright Brothers logos, are seen confronting the driver with cursing, hateful language, and threats.

A central figure in the videos is identified as Michael Buckner, a safety manager for Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc., who also serves as a part-time deputy with the Haywood County Sheriff's Office. In the video, Buckner, wearing a Wright Brothers hat and vest, is seen telling the driver to "shut the door and shut your mouth" while forcibly pushing the truck's door closed.

The driver alleges his dog was clipped by the closing door, causing it to yelp. When the driver reopened the door to address this, Buckner is seen pointing at him and threatening, "I'm going to put you in jail," while again attempting to close the door.

The driver also claims that two bulldozers were used to tilt his trailer and block his truck from leaving, and that men with guns were involved, and his trailer was flipped. While some of these specific details are under investigation, the aggressive use of heavy machinery is a significant allegation.

The driver stated he was accused of stealing a cell phone, allowed his truck to be searched, and was cleared after surveillance footage review before the confrontation re-escalated.

Company and County Responses

In the wake of the viral outcry, key entities involved have issued statements:

Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc. released a public statement on social media and their website, expressing their dismay:

"Wright Brothers Construction Company is appalled by the recent altercation involving one of our employees at a landfill site in Haywood County, North Carolina."

They confirmed they are "engaging an independent investigator" and have "placed the employee who was involved on leave" to uncover all specifics.

The company explicitly stated, "Our employee’s behavior does not reflect our company values and is contrary to our longstanding policies of professionalism and respect."

They reaffirmed their commitment to "fostering a work environment, and public presence built on respect, accountability, and integrity," and stated that "threats, hateful language, and discrimination are not permitted."

Wright Brothers also announced "additional training for all supervisory personnel focused on conflict resolution, respectful communication, and maintaining professionalism in difficult situations."

They acknowledged that Michael Buckner was at the site "while still on our clock" but acting as a sheriff's deputy, and they are reviewing this situation. They also clarified that other individuals in the video are not employed by Wright Brothers.

Haywood County Government issued a press release on July 28, 2025, clarifying the landfill's status:

They emphasized that the "TBD landfill" is privately owned and operated by Two Banks Development, LLC. and "is not owned or operated by Haywood County Government, Haywood County Solid Waste Management, The Town of Clyde, or Haywood County Solid Waste contractors: Consolidated Waste Services and Republic Services."

The county also reported that their "Solid Waste facilities, staff, and contractors have received threatening phone calls" in response to the viral video, urging the public to seek accurate information.

WNCTimes reported this press release on July 28, 2025, in an article titled "Statement on Social Media Video: Incident Occurred on Privately Owned, Non-County Site". read Here

Two Banks Development, LLC, the operator of the landfill, also released a statement, suggesting the videos "present a partial and misleading account of an incident." They claimed the incident involved a contracted driver who "violated site policies and engaged in aggressive behavior on site," and that "Law enforcement was called immediately." They confirmed they are not pressing charges on the unnamed driver.

Ongoing Investigations and Lack of Charges (as of August 1, 2025)

As of Friday, August 1, 2025, investigations are actively underway:

The Haywood County Sheriff's Office is investigating the involvement of part-time deputy Michael Buckner. They have confirmed that an incident report has been filed, listing potential charges including Simple Assault, Injury to Personal Property, and Assault by Pointing a Gun. However, no formal charges have been filed, and no arrests have been made in relation to the incident as of this update.

Wright Brothers Construction's internal investigation is also continuing.

The truck driver has stated he is seeking legal counsel.

WNCTimes will continue to bring updates on this developing story.

WNCTimes

Image: AI Generate by WNCTimes