Carroll County sheriff's officials defend deputy in fatal chase

<p>The sheriff's department is defending a deputy who accidentally killed a grandmother during a high-speed chase of a man who escaped from a Florida jail.</p><p>Carroll County sheriff's Lt. Shane Taylor said the Tuesday night death of Rebecca Ann Partain was unfortunate but that deputy Jamie Godbee did not break any department rules during the chase.</p><p>"(Godbee) did everything required by our agency and our policies. That doesn't make up for the loss of the victim," Taylor said. "He had a suspect fleeing him. He had a job to do."</p><p>Godbee was on patrol Tuesday night when he was alerted to a pickup truck matching the description of one being driven by the fugitive. Police were informed earlier that Ronald Dale Smith could be in the Carrollton area, about 50 miles west of Atlanta.</p><p>When the deputy tried to stop the vehicle, the suspect fled north into neighboring Haralson County. Godbee lost control at an intersection and struck a car driven by Partain, 62, of Buchanan.</p><p>Godbee was injured in the crash and was recuperating after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a dislocated hip and other injuries.</p><p>Smith, 31, of Avon Park, Fla., was arrested in Tallapoosa and was brought to the Carroll County Jail. He was wanted in Florida for charges including aggravated assault, resisting arrest and theft, and in Carroll County for felony theft of a credit card and probation violation.</p><p>His fellow escapee, Anthony Layne Deboy, 22, of Naples, Fla., was still at large Wednesday.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x28663e8)</p>