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An eleven year veteran of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department shot and killed early today as he and other sheriff’s deputies were searching for a burglary suspect fifteen miles east of Clarksville, Arkansas
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At approximately 1 AM this morning (Friday, May 15, 2015) the sheriff’s department received a telephone report of a suspected burglar in the area of County Road 1723.
As deputies searched the area at approximately 2:30 AM, Reserve Deputy Sonny Smith 42, of Clarksville confronted an individual identified as Fred Kaufield who allegedly shot Smith.
Deputy Smith returned gunfire and Kaufield was taken into custody. Kaufield sustained minor injuries.
Smith was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Kaufield is being detained at the Pope County Detention Center while an investigation is continuing.
The investigation of the shooting incident is being handled by the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division.
