Published: June 30, 2009 08:35 am      

Man fleeing from Laurel deputy was brandishing a knife

By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

Kentucky State Police investigating the fatal shooting of a fleeing suspect by a Laurel sheriff’s deputy have revealed the weapon the fleeing man reportedly brandished as a knife.

KSP Trooper Don Trosper said Monday the weapon, found at the scene of the shooting, was a “folding knife.”

He described it as larger than an ordinary pocket knife.

James Ernest Goforth, 35, died as the result of a gunshot wound just before midnight Thursday when, according to police, he turned and brandished the knife while fleeing on foot from police. Goforth had led police on a car chase into the Daniel Boone National Forest west of London.

His funeral was Monday morning at Pleasant Valley Pentecostal Church in London. He was buried at Pine Creek Cemetery off White Oak Road within the Daniel Boone Forest, also west of London.

According to police accounts, late Thursday night, Sheriff’s deputy Richard Sapcut spotted Goforth driving a vehicle with no license plate on Keller Road west of London. A passenger was also in the vehicle.

Sapcut reportedly attempted to stop the vehicle, but Goforth failed to stop and began to flee.

Sapcut was soon joined in the pursuit by Deputy Rob Mitchell.

The two chased Goforth driving west on KY 1956 to Falls City Road where Goforth turned north.

The road quickly deteriorated from paved to gravel to a muddy logging road, where Goforth’s car spun out, said police.

Goforth reportedly left the vehicle and began to run. He was said to have stopped, turned and brandished the knife.

At that point, Sapcut reportedly fired at Goforth, who was said to have been shot in the neck.

Police have yet to release the distance between Sapcut and Goforth when the shot was fired, Trosper said Monday.

The passenger was detained at the scene, but released later with no charges, said Trosper.

Sapcut was put on administrative leave after the incident. Administrative leave was described as paid time off by Sheriff Fred Yaden.

The Laurel County major crimes task force led by KSP Detective Millard Root continues its investigation into the incident.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Harold Dyche said Monday that after the investigation is complete, the evidence will be turned over to his office.

He said most likely the case will go to the grand jury.

Dyche said to the best of his memory, all shooting incidents are taken to a grand jury.

“I can’t remember when one hasn’t been,” he said, noting that the case will be treated just as any other similar case.