December 4, 2017
On November 16, 2017 three Levy County Deputy Sheriffs
responded to 7450 NW 110 Street in Chiefland to a reported domestic violence
complaint with an armed subject. Deputies arrived and confronted Michael Wesley
Goodale (7-21-83) at the front door of this residence. Goodale was armed with
two knives and refused to comply with all lawful orders given by deputies.
Deputies deployed Tasers in an attempt to disarm Goodale, but the Tasers were
ineffective. Goodale attacked our Deputies which forced them to use their
agency issued handguns to stop this attack. Goodale was struck by two bullets
fired by our deputies and did not survive his injuries. Two deputies sustained
minor injuries during the altercation.
The Levy County Deputies involved in this incident were
placed on administrative leave with pay that same evening in compliance with
our agency policy. Sheriff McCallum contacted the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement (FDLE) and requested they conduct an independent investigation into
this incident. Sheriff McCallum was recently updated on the progress of the
FDLE investigation and has authorized all three deputies to return to duty.
On the date this incident was reported by the complainant,
who called 911 to report the emergency, the LCSO Communications Division
dispatched the nearest unit available and back-up units. Deputy Robert “Bob”
Cannon was the first to arrive on scene. K-9 Sergeant Kevin Kinik and K-9
Deputy Gary Garboski arrived within two minutes of Deputy Cannon’s arrival.
Deputy Cannon has been employed with the LCSO since May of 2005
with prior experience as a Police Officer with the Chiefland Police Department
and as a Correctional Officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. Sergeant
Kinik began his career with the LCSO in January of 2004 and has four years of
prior experience with the Chiefland Police Department. Deputy Garboski began
his second career in law enforcement with the LCSO in November of 2015 after completing
a full career with the Tampa Police Department.
This deadly encounter is the only time Levy County deputies
have been forced to engage a criminal suspect with deadly force since 2005. In
both these instances the lives of our deputies and our community were
endangered. This is a tragedy for all involved. Our deputies, as well as every
other law enforcement officer across this nation, have to make the most difficult
decisions in a split second to preserve life.
The family of Mr. Goodale was forever altered that night and
these deputy’s lives have also been affected. Our thoughts and prayers are with
our men and women who have taken an oath to protect those in our community who
entrust us with their safety, and with the Goodale family.