Robert Buckner’s lawsuit against two law enforcement officers has brought to light allegations of excessive force and misconduct. On February 9, 2026, Robert Buckner filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Julian Sharp and Shane Henning, both members of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office. The complaint stems from an incident on March 29, 2025, when Buckner claims he was assaulted by the officers while they were attempting to arrest his wife.
According to the complaint, Robert Buckner and his wife Brittney returned home late at night to find police vehicles outside their residence. Former Deputy Sheriff Luke Arnold informed them that Brittney was under arrest, which led to a brief discussion about the reason for her arrest. During this interaction, one of the officers asked Robert to remove his hands from his pockets, which he did while assuring them he posed no threat. However, as Brittney was about to be arrested, Robert took a step towards her with his arms outstretched—a gesture that allegedly prompted an aggressive response from the officers.
The lawsuit details how both Henning and Sharp physically assaulted Robert without provocation. Henning reportedly punched him in the face while he was being forced to the ground, followed by Sharp delivering additional punches once Robert was pinned down. These actions resulted in significant facial injuries for Robert. Despite their testimony during a preliminary hearing where they claimed Robert “lunged” at Arnold, Robert was acquitted of all charges related to assaulting law enforcement officers.
Robert Buckner’s legal action is grounded in violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He argues that the use of force by Sharp and Henning was excessive and unreasonable given that he posed no threat at any point during the encounter. The lawsuit also highlights discrepancies in the officers’ testimonies regarding Robert’s actions that night.
In seeking justice through this court filing, Buckner requests compensatory damages totaling $250,000 for injuries sustained during the incident as well as medical expenses amounting to $18,127.32. Additionally, due to what is described as outrageous conduct by the defendants—exemplified by false statements made under oath—Buckner seeks punitive damages of $50,000 against each officer involved.
Representing Robert Buckner are attorneys Douglas E. Kahle and Zachary A. Handlin from Kinser, Leftwich & Kahle P.C., based in Chesapeake, Virginia. The case is under Case ID: 2:26-cv-00139.
Source: 226cv00139_Buckner_v_Sharp_Complaint_Eastern_District_Virginia.pdf
