CLARKSVILLE -- A Johnson County reserve sheriff's deputy was shot and killed early Friday while on a search during a burglary investigation in rural eastern Johnson County, according to the Arkansas State Police.
Sonny Smith, 42, died about 3 a.m. of a gunshot wound at Johnson County Regional Medical Center in Clarksville, Johnson County Coroner Pamela Cogan said.
Arrested in the shooting was Fred Kauffeld, 51. He suffered minor injuries in the shooting, a news release from the Arkansas State Police stated.
Kauffeld was being held in the Pope County jail on Friday as the investigation continued. No booking information was available.
The state police agency, which is handling the investigation of Smith's shooting, stated that the sheriff's office received a call about 1 a.m. Friday of a suspected burglary in the area of County Road 1723 in eastern Johnson County 15 miles from Clarksville.
As deputies searched the area about 2:30 a.m., Smith was shot, state police said.
Smith was an 11-year veteran of the Johnson County sheriff's office, according to the release.
The sheriff's office released no information on the shooting Friday and had no comment on Smith's death. It referred all inquiries to state police.
A chaplain with the sheriff's office, who declined to give his name, said members of the department were "feeling how you would expect them to feel." Most were sad, some were angry, he said.
Smith also was a nuclear-security officer at Arkansas Nuclear One at Russellville for six years, according to Entergy Arkansas Inc.
"The Entergy family is mourning the loss of our good friend and valued co-worker, Sonny Smith. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," a statement from the company said.
Calls of condolence arrived in Clarksville from around the state and Washington, D.C., on Friday.
"It's just a very sad situation," said Herman Houston, county judge of Johnson County. "The attorney general has already called me with condolences. So much is going on nationwide and then something like this happens right here in such a close-knit community."
Houston ordered the flag outside the Johnson County Courthouse to be lowered to half-staff in Smith's honor.
In a statement Friday, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said: "The tragic death of a Johnson County deputy last night is a solemn reminder of the serious dangers police officers put their lives in to serve and protect."
The office of Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, who is from nearby Dardanelle, released a statement Friday offering condolences over Smith's death.
Over the past week, the statement said, the nation has taken time to honor law enforcement officers during National Police Week, and flags across the country were flying at half-staff in memory of those officers who died in the line of duty.
"But for Arkansans, this day has new meaning, as we join together to mourn the death of Johnson County Reserve Deputy Sonny Smith," a portion of the statement said.
Houston said he also felt sympathy for Kauffeld's family, which he said was a long-established family in the county with a good reputation.
There was nothing in the Johnson County circuit clerk's files to show Kauffeld had any prior criminal record.
Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons did not respond to an inquiry on whether any charges were filed Friday against Kauffeld.
Cogan, the coroner, said Smith's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy.
A hearse returned Smith's body to Clarksville at midafternoon Friday escorted through town by several sheriff's patrol cars, their blue lights flashing. Courthouse employees gathered out front in respect as the hearse passed, Houston said.
Smith's body was taken to Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville. Obituary information was not available Friday.
Smith's death marked at least the third line-of-duty death of a regional law enforcement officer within a week. Two Hattiesburg, Miss., police officers were killed May 9 during a traffic stop.