Ranger on the loose
A couple of you have sent us links to this story about John C. Buckley IV in Lexington, KY who is on the loose while he was out on bond after being convicted of raping his girlfriend. Apparently, he cut off his ankle monitor and dashed off into the wilds.
Buckley’s training as an Army Ranger “gives him the ability to engage in defensive and combative tactics at a very high level,” Roberts said. “As such, we do not want citizens to independently approach him or try to take him into custody. If you see him, call 911 immediately.”
When Buckley was arrested, Bradbury said, police confiscated multiple weapons, including a handgun, an assault rifle and a shotgun. Buckley also had body armor and a stockpile of ammunition, he said.
Court documents say Buckley suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Court documents say Buckley kept a scrapbook with photos of the people he had killed “over there” and showed them to friends.
The good folks at the Ranger Training Brigade have verified to us that he is indeed Ranger qualified, in fact, they were impressed that he hadn’t failed any of his patrols at the school. So this probably isn’t going to end well at all for anyone. Just reading the article gives the impression that the police are rightly concerned about what will happen if they run into him. According to Kentucky.com;
Because of his violent past, authorities were concerned Buckley might try to harm victims, detectives and prosecutors who were involved in his case.
“He blames the police department for his criminal acts; he blames the commonwealth’s attorneys office,” Bradbury said. “He blames everyone but himself.”
Category: Veterans Issues
And now he becomes the poster child for the rest of us. Even if we aren’t ranger qualified.
Yet somehow most sane people understand that whatever mental defect he has now he had before getting specialized training. Unfortunately, that knowledge will not keep him or those he wishes to harm safer.
You are correct – this likely will not end well.
Damn.
They could send a sniper out there after him, but they need it to be a military sniper. Not just a shooter, but a stealthy tracker.
What is that crap on his head?
Satire: The sniper idea is a good one. I will contact the authorities and most highly recommend the only one who could possibly conduct this operation: Dallas Wigetfield. He can jump in, conduct long range patrol, and take out the target … while advising the authorities.
Serious: This won’t end well.
I do NOT judge, that a PLAIN CRIMINAL will become a poster “child” — not, with the increasing fame of This Ain’t Hell and other Truth-Tellers. The honest military men will not permit it .
@6: I hope you realize my sniper idea was tongue-in-cheek.
Unfortunatly this will increase the stigma placed upon PTSD. There are plenty of people out there that think we are all violent sociopaths as it is.
I doubt he’s going after the police or the prosecutors. This guy had and E&E plan and that’s what he’s doing. If he’s found alive, I seriously doubt it will end well. If that is the case, I hope the bad ending comes upon him rather than LEOs or civvy bystanders. I hate to say this about a fellow warrior, but he brought this on himself. Part of me wants him to never be found but a bigger part of me wants him to be brought to justice because that girl deserves it and he will most likely hurt more people in the future.
Well, as mentioned before, some veterans themselves are to blame for spreading this stereotype about PTSD. I’m sure more than a few are scamming the system by claiming PTSD and getting benefits, etc., just because they spent a few months somewhere overseas, maybe not even in a war zone or on a FOB. It seems like every time they profile someone that is a veteran, they will claim PTSD even if they never set foot in a combat zone. All of this makes civilians think all veterans that served the past decade are somehow “damaged” goods regardless of job occupation or what they did.
Anyways, is this guy Ranger qualified or an Army Ranger, as in spending time in Ranger Battalion? I am no expert but isn’t there a big difference between the two concepts?
If he’s that smart in planning his escape, he should already be in Venezuela….if not I agree it won’t end well for anyone…
Hopefully he realizes he’s a scumbag and suck starts a shotgun.
Great, just what we needed. Yet another story thats going to further deepen the distrust that the average civilian has for soldiers. I really hope this dude just runs out to the woods and suck starts a 45.
Intriguing:
http://www.nunncenter.org/c2ky/2012/01/16/john-calvin-buckley-iv/
given his guys training and background, what moron judge allowed him to bond out?
The one guy who’s a real bad apple.
How would any man know that he has committed rape if the “victim” never said or indicated “no”? What man who has served in the military is safe from a rape prosecution if the element of force is met by the mere fact that he has been trained for combat and owns a gun? Rather than saying John gives PTSD victims a bad name, people should say that she gives rape victims an injustice. Rape means force. If force is proved only by a combat-ready man with a gun stashed away, every military man commits rape every time he has sex.
Former soldier Eric Rudolph of Olympic Park bombing fame was put on FBI 10 most wanted list in 1998. He evaded local and Federal authorities for 5 years hiding in Appalachian wilderness. His survival skills and resourcefulness in very rugged environment impressed the hell out of alot of people.
Rudolph’s ability to avoid capture made him a celebrity and local legend of sorts in region. Rooting for a domestic terrorist? Hey, at least he’s OUR terrorist – yes people are so shallow.
18…..he was found guilty….I’m sure the jurors knew more than you or I…..
Rape is wrong.
Running does not help prove your innocence. Better a jury of your peers than the end of a barrell. And I am here to tell you, there is no due process at the end of a barrell.
This man violated the Creed.
There are no excuses for sexual violence toward women.
Period.
If caught and found guilty, he should receive life after castration.
@18 go back and read the story. Buckley is nothing but a thug.
Green thumb, running may not prove innocence and no one should, but this was not rape.
@ 23 He sent her a text message, telling her to come to his apartment, and he threatened to post nude pictures of her online if she refused. That pretty much somes it up.
@23.
We live in a country with a unique legal system, innocent until proven guilty.
As to the validity of his crime, I do not know. I was not there.
However, running does not help. I can only imagine the media has spun this to some extent.
And I am getting tired of that PTSD argument.
Most deployed line IN guys I know have it, in some shape, form or fashion.
Just deal with it. I have found booze helps. This may not be encouraged within the greater medical community, but it helps.
@24.
Seems like a good guy…
Making a video of the crime was likely a major piece of evidence. Nice of him to help the prosecution.
#18 & #23 – You know this, how?
@11
Ranger Qualified = Graduate from Ranger School and awarded Ranger tab. Ranger School is not affiliated with the Ranger Regiment – RS is open to all service branches and is considered a leadership school. Acceptance into RS is not easy, must have strong record of performance and rate highly for potential to serve at next level of responsibility.
To serve in Ranger Regiment = Complete Ranger Indoctrination Program – I think changed to Ranger Assessment and Selection Program recently. Than awarded Ranger scroll and tan beret. Read a couple books where staying in the Regiment actually much harder than getting accepted in. Duty is very rigorous and injuries take a toll on many Rangers. NCOs must complete Ranger School for future promotions and qualify for other schools.
@18 and 23: in what way are you connected or related to Buckley? Seems like you’re being an apologist for him, especially in light of the fact that he was CONVICTED.
And as Radar pointed out, he RECORDED his sexual assault of the woman.
Seems like that oughta convince you to stop making excuses for him.
#15 ROS:
Thanks for posting that video. It is a very long interview, but well worth watching. I admit I watched it in its entirety, not just for content, but trying to read him. Intriguing indeed.
@Sgt Awesome. There is absolutely nothing funny about what you wrote. There is another side to this case and you will hear about it if your attention span will permit. How dare you suggest someone’s son kill himself. Shame on you.
@Marine_7002, there have been many individuals convicted then exonerated. Please view the Innocence Project website. If you were innocent of this crime, would you be willing to go to prison as a “rapist”? Maybe others have more details than what you have or they simply don’t believe every written word. There is another side to this story and you haven’t seen it yet. Stay tuned.
@25, they did not use PTSD as an argument or defense. @22 I do not have to read the story, I know a lot about it already. The simple fact is that someone was accused of rape, which requires force. The prosecution tried to prove it was force because he was military trained and had a gun and she just somehow, kind of felt she could not say “no”. That means all of our military men can never have sex without the threat of being called a rapist. And someone should look at her and everything she did with him before they try to kill him.
@24, they produced over 100 text messages between the two. Almost all of them were of her begging him to allow her to come over! Then she led him to the bedroom and to the bed and NEVER said “No.” The intercourse was par for the course with the two. The pix had been posted online (not by Buckley) before that night. It wasn’t a threat!
@Look into it Further… In that case, my sister better be careful. She always has a loaded weapon in her home. She might be facing charges soon…
ROS, according to it’s link, it’s a defense attorney. Maybe, he was Buckley’s defense attorney? Or, he belongs to the genre that believes that every victim lies?
Oh, and “Look into It”, sex obtained by coercion or extortion certainly qualifies as rape.
@37- I was wondering about that, and I’m not surprised.
@31- Ditto. One thing that struck me was his placement of blame regarding alcohol toward the end. Very curious.
He cut his ankle bracelet off and ran off into the woods. Yeah, seems like an innocent man alright.
@29- RIP went to RASP in 2010. Everyone in 4-5-6 bn wears tan berets also, with school flash in leiu of RRGT flash.
RRGT doesn’t have “affiliation” with RTB per say, they are part of TRADOC and Infantry center of excellence, now Manuever center of excellence, whereas RRGT is a member of SOCOM.
RASP 1 for E-5 and below, RASP 2 for E-6 and above. Must be Ranger school graduate and airborne qualified to attend RASP 2.
@40
Thanks
“Another side to this case” would that be the side where he puts the off duty LEO on his knees in the street after pulling a gun regarding a jaywalking confrontation?
Or the conspiracy charge pending for shooting into somebody’s mom’s house?
Buckley’s probably not going to win any model citizen awards….I don’t know what he is or is not guilty of here, experience tells me lots of misdemeanors involving violence and drugs don’t lead to great things in the future….I’m inclined to believe the 12 jurors….as I said earlier he should already be in Venezuela if not, well this could end a number of ways and none of them particularly great….
@33 flipside: you’re delusional. Please explain how someone who did a video of their sexual assault on a woman could possibly be exonerated. Obviously 12 people on a jury saw that video and believed it showed exactly what happened. Please, do tell how you interpret that video differently than those 12 people did.
You claim to have more details. Cough them up, or you’re just another troll loser.
By the way, how are you related to Buckley?
“How would any man know that he has committed rape if the “victim” never said or indicated “no”?”
Wow, seriously? That’s the only way to tell a rape?
Get help.
“When necessary, a real man shoots his own dog himself.”
Send the Rangers after him. Otherwise, the local police department is likely to need to do a lot of hiring after this is over.
This is the saddest display of Ranger comraderie I have ever seen.
Suck start a 45? Who the fuck do you think you are? Buckley had his 18 year old feet on afghanistan soil days after September 11. How about a little more love and respect for a man who laid down everything for his country and a little less reverence for some crazy immigrant bitch who lied because she couldn’t control him.
Some sorry ass Rangers here. Buckleys not the disgrace to the name, you are for abandoning your brother,
@46
Rape is wrong (if found guilty by his peers [12]). Some of us were in the box as well.
He violated the Creed on a lot of levels.
Rangers are supposed to lead the way.
I refer you to stanzas #1,#3 and #5:
Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers.
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Notice prestige, esprit de corps, mental alertness, honor, moral straightness, and embarrassing my country (or my comrades).
It is not a Tab, it is a code of conduct.
I am not picking a fight as I think you know the Creed.
However, wrong is wrong.
Many fake men talk big ball shit. And have never born witness to true battle. He is a Hero, multiple purple hearts before he could even have a beer. And he will only be remembered as a rapist. Not a warrior, not a man, not a Ranger or a hero.
That is what’s wrong.
So, he ran because he wanted to be thought a man, a Ranger, a hero?
Try again.
@48.
I agree with your comment.
I do not know him, but if you say he did his job…good.
And that is the sad part of the situation he wound up in.
Life changes in and after the Army. You have to adjust.