OZARK, Ark. — A Franklin County deputy was justified in using deadly force against a man who tried to disarm an officer during a May 15 incident, according to Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips.
The events unfolded on Cat Holler Road, where Franklin County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) deputies were dispatched to investigate a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, deputies saw 54-year-old Patrick Poole fleeing toward a nearby residence. Inside the home, they found 62-year-old Roy Lee Murphy on the floor with fatal stab wounds.
Deputies exited the residence and awaited backup from additional law enforcement agencies. SWAT officers from FCSO and Arkansas State Police (ASP) troopers responded to the scene. Poole was briefly observed on the roof holding a knife before retreating back inside the home through a window.
SWAT personnel breached the property and attempted to detain Poole, who resisted arrest and tried to take a deputy's firearm. In response, another deputy fired two rounds, striking Poole.
Inside the home, authorities also discovered Jody Grinder, 55, deceased in a bedroom.
The FCSO requested the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division to review the officer-involved shooting. Following the investigation, Prosecuting Attorney Phillips concluded in an August 14 letter to state police that the deputy was justified in using deadly force. Phillips explained that the deputy had a reasonable belief that lethal action was necessary to prevent Poole from gaining control of the weapon, which would have posed a grave threat to officers' safety.
No additional details about the incident or the ongoing investigation have been released at this time.