Dekalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris has identified the man killed in a shootout with deputies as Monroe Curtis Smith of the Pea Ridge Community.
Harris said Smith fled deputies who tried to stop him Friday night on Highway 117 near Ider. Harris was driving an ATV.
At one point during the chase, the deputies saw Smith pull out a gun, according to Harris.
Smith eventually reached an area with a lot of debris from last year's tornadoes and he was forced to stop the ATV. Harris said Smith took off running behind a home.
The deputies followed. When they came around a curve in the wooded trail, Smith was waiting for them, according to Harris.
Smith stood and pointed his gun at the deputies, Harris said.
The deputies ordered him to drop the gun, but Harris said he refused and they were forced to shoot him.
The deputies gave Smith CPR and paramedics continued efforts to revive him when they arrived on the scene.
The coroner pronounced Smith dead at 5:13 p.m. Friday.
"It's unfortunate." said Sheriff Harris about the shooting. "We always hope situations like this can be avoided. From everything I've been able to see in this case, it appears that the officers presented themselves as they should have."
The ABI is investigating, which is standard procedure for many agencies when an officer or deputy shoots someone.
The deputies are on administrative leave with pay.
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Smith ran behind a home on County Road 117 to get away from deputies, according to Sheriff Jimmy Harris.
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