Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrest suspect out of Georgia

Press Release
Nassau County Sheriff’s Office
Bill Leeper, Sheriff
August 16, 2016 10:02 a.m.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office was notified just before 1 am on Monday, August 15, 2016, by the US Marshall’s Office that a suspect, Royhem Deshawn Deeds, 24, who was wanted for the murder of Eastman, Georgia Police Officer Timothy Smith on Saturday, August 13th, may be in a gold colored Nissan Altima, with a Georgia Tag traveling south on US-1 from the Folkston Georgia area possibly heading to Gainesville, Florida.

An NCSO Deputy observed the vehicle matching the description traveling southbound at US-1 and CR-108 in Hilliard. Two NCSO deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at US-1 just south of Testone Lane.

Franshawn Shanae Deeds, 22, the suspect’s sister and the registered owner, was driving the vehicle and Jamil Marquis Mitchell, 32, was a right front passenger.

After the driver and right front passenger were detained outside of the vehicle, a search of the vehicle was conducted and Royhem Deshawn Deeds was found hiding in the trunk.

Royhem Deshawn Deeds was arrested on an outstanding warrant for murder and Franshawn Shanae Deeds and Jamil Marquis Mitchell were both arrested on a warrant for Hindering the Apprehension of a Fugitive and booked into the Nassau County Jail.

All three waived extradition at their first court appearance this morning and we are waiting for Georgia authorities to pick them up and transport them back.

“A police officer’s job is very dangerous. We see this around our country and even locally with things that has happened, especially recently,” Sheriff Bill Leeper said. “The Eastman police officer was just doing his job and was killed as a result. It’s very sad when that happens, but it’s certainly a good day when we can find the individual that did it and arrest them. Thankfully our officers were in the right place at the right time and arrested the individual responsible without any injury occurring.”

###