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Police: Buford commissioner, son fought with colleagues family at concert
Burges, Smiths in fracas at Doobie Brothers event Sept. 12, officials say
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A Gwinnett County Police Department officer broke up a fight between four men, one of them a Buford city commissioner, at a concert last month.

Leonard Chris Burge, a Buford commissioner, and his son Cory Burge were at a concert by The Doobie Brothers on Sept. 12 at the Buford Community Center when they encountered Walter Smith and Henry Smith. The Smiths are brothers and related to Michael Smith, who is also on the Buford board of commissioners.

An officer responded to the rear door of the community center, where a fight had allegedly started.

“The two groups had conflicting stories of what happened,” according to the report.

The report adds that there were no independent witnesses, though an offsite company captured surveillance video that showed “all four individuals engaged in mutual combat.”

Cory Burge reportedly suffered a bloody nose while his father had a bruised left eye and a cut on his left ear. Henry Smith had no visible injuries and Walter Smith showed bruising to his left jaw.

“All four individuals appeared to be under the influence of alcohol,” according to the report.

Because of the evidence available, the officer issued citations for disorderly conduct and kept them separated. All four were seen by paramedics but were not treated.