Highway patrol investigating fatal shooting involving Butler County deputy

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A southern Butler County, Missouri, man was killed in an incident with a Butler County sheriff's deputy at 12:50 a.m. Saturday in the 3700 block of Route BB.

Sources close to the Daily American Republic identify the deceased as Frank "Sid" Smody.

According to a release from Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, the deputy, whose name has not been released, responded to the residence to investigate a possible trespasser or prowler.

"The first responding officer began investigating the situation and was preparing to do a security sweep of the outdoor of the residence," Dobbs said. "Soon, the officer came under gunfire."

"As a result, the officer returned fire, and fatally [shot] one individual," he said.

The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control.

Butler County Coroner Jim Akers said his department was notified of the death and began investigating about 2:40 a.m. Saturday. The highway patrol became involved because the sheriff's department cannot investigate its own incident, and it happened outside of the Poplar Bluff Police Department's jurisdiction.

According to Akers, an autopsy has been scheduled for today with Dr. Russell Deidiker.

"I will start processing the paperwork for the coroner's inquest on Tuesday," he said. "Technically, it's on my hands to try to determine if it's a felony or justifiable. A coroner's inquest will put it in the hands of six jurors."

Highway patrol public information officer Clark Parrott said the department cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.