By Art Jester
Lexington Herald-Leader
BOONEVILLE, Ky. — A state trooper and an Owsley County firefighter who responded to a highway accident Saturday got into an altercation at the scene that resulted in the firefighter’s arrest and a state police investigation of the incident.
Firefighter Christopher Gabbard, 28, of Booneville was taken to Kentucky River Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury. He was then charged with third-degree assault and menacing and was taken to Three Forks Regional Jail.
State police apparently want to determine whether Trooper Sonny Dunaway used appropriate force in arresting Gabbard.
Gabbard, who is out of jail, could not be reached for comment Monday night.
The crash occurred at Fish Creek Loop and Winklers Branch Road north of Booneville. James Bowling, 39, Holly Renee Johnson, 26, and an unidentified 3-year-old child were injured.
Trooper Chris Lanham, a spokesman for the state police post in Richmond, said Dunaway is being investigated by a supervisor, but he could not provide details of the altercation.
“This is an active use of force investigation,” Lanham said. “I’m not at liberty to release any more information.”
In December 2004 in Garrard County, Dunaway shot and killed a suspect who took a woman hostage and lunged at the trooper with a knife.
The man who was killed, Carlos Cruz Saturno, also known as Carlos S. Cruz, had been involved in several previous domestic incidents.
Dunaway helped the woman break free before Saturno came at the trooper with the knife.
Dunaway had arrested Saturno about two months earlier, according to records.
Last May, Dunaway was one of eight state troopers who received the Kentucky State Police Citation for Bravery.
Copyright 2008 Lexington Herald-Leader