DEP. ERIC OLIVER: His life in photos | Law enforcement procession photos
VIDEO: Colleagues remember Det. Eric Oliver
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YULEE, Fla. -- Nassau County Sheriff's Office Deputy Eric Oliver was hit and killed by a vehicle Tuesday morning while assisting Border Patrol agents.
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said Border Patrol agents were checking a vehicle between 7 and 7:30 a.m. with six people inside. The vehicle was stopped at a gas station on State Road 200 near Chester Road. Deputies were assisting in the check.
One person ran from the vehicle and two deputies ran after him. Deputy Oliver, 32, was hit and killed by a vehicle on SR 200 at Chester Road during the chase. Leeper said he failed to see oncoming traffic.
On Tuesday night, a 26-year-old man from El Salvador, Francisco Obidio Portillo Fuentes, who has been deported twice before, was captured in Jacksonville following Oliver's death.
THE LATEST
(Wednesday, 4:25 p.m.): According to a criminal complaint against Portillo Fuentes, he entered the United States last week by crossing the Rio Grande near Larado, Texas. Portillo Fuentes was reportedly deported as recently as Sept. 2016.
(Wednesday, 3 p.m.):
Francisco Portillo Fuentes appeared in federal court for the first time and said he was married and had three children. He listed his address as simply, "Powers Ave." He told the court that he had a third-grade education.
Portillo Fuentes was appointed an attorney.
(Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.): Funeral arrangements for Deputy Eric Oliver have been set. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 25 from 2 p.m.-until at Oxley Heard Funeral Home in Fernandina Beach.
The funeral will be Saturday, Nov. 26th at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach.
(Wednesday, 12:15 p.m.): Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said they are still discussing with the state attorney on whether or not they could charge Francisco Obbidio Portillo-Fuentes in the deputy's death. He said that the decision most likely won't happen Wednesday.
Surveillance won't be released, according to Leeper.
(Tuesday, 7:59 p.m.): Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper released the following statement about a 25-year-old man from Guatemala who has been captured in Deputy Oliver's death:
"At approximately 7:45 PM the subject that ran from Border Patrol and Nassau County Sheriff's Deputies this morning, resulting in the death of NCSO Deputy Eric Oliver, was captured in Jacksonville at Atlantic Self-Storage on Powers Avenue. The US Marshall's Office, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and NCSO were involved in the search and subsequent capture of Francisco Obbidio Portillo-Fuentes, 25 years old from Guatemala. He had been deported from the US on two separate occasions and is being held on felony reentry into the US by Border Patrol at this time."
(6:46 p.m.): Sources tell Action News Jax an arrest has been made in Jacksonville in the manhunt related to Deputy Oliver's death.
(4:20 p.m.): The U.S. Border Patrol released the following information on the incident that led to Oliver's death:
"During the morning hours of November 22, 2016, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the Jacksonville, FL, U.S. Border Patrol Station and two Nassau County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) deputies approached six (6) occupants in a stationary pickup truck at a gas station on CR200 in Yulee, Florida. During the encounter, the Border Patrol agent identified that at least three of the subjects were citizens or nationals of a foreign country and did not have authorization to be present or reside in the United States.
"The agent had those subjects step out of the vehicle with the intention of placing them under arrest and transferring them to a Border Patrol vehicle. As this occurred, an additional subject exited the pickup truck and fled on foot. While the agent safely secured the three subjects in his vehicle, the NCSO Deputies engaged in a foot pursuit across CR 200 with the fleeing subject. One of the NCSO Deputies was struck by a passing vehicle on CR 200 as a result.
"Hearing the collision, the Border Patrol agent quickly responded to the injured Deputy to render aid. During that time, the fifth and sixth subjects, who were still in the process of being questioned, reentered the pickup truck and fled. The vehicle has since been located and the driver and passenger have been arrested by authorities.
"One subject currently remains at large. A multi-agency effort is underway to locate the outstanding subject. Florida Highway Patrol is leading the investigation."
(3:23 p.m.): Gov. Rick Scott issued the following statement on Oliver's death:
"Ann and I are deeply saddened of the by the death of Deputy Eric Oliver and we join all Floridians in mourning this tragic loss. Deputy Oliver was not only a proud member of the Nassau County Sheriff's Office but also a Navy veteran and a loving father and husband. Our prayers and deepest condolences are with his family. The brave men and women of law enforcement choose to dedicate their lives every day to keep our communities safe and we owe them our sincerest gratitude for all they do. We will forever honor the service, courage and sacrifice of Deputy Oliver and pray that his family and loved ones find peace and healing during this very difficult time."
(3:11 p.m.): Dep. Oliver's remains have been taken to a Fernandina Beach funeral home after a lengthy procession.
(2:52 p.m. ET): Nassau County Sheriff BIll Leeper says lockdown at day cares have been lifted. They're focusing search elsewhere, but Leeper couldn't say why, just that it's expanded.
(2:49 p.m. ET): A suspect description has been released: Blue jeans and blue shirt, Hispanic male. Had sweat shirt on ... but took it off.
(2:46 p.m. ET:) Nassau County Sheriff BIll Leeper says a suspect has not been caught.
(2:01 p.m. ET): Scores of police officers, firefighters and first responders lined State Road 200 as Dep. Oliver's remains were escorted to a funeral home in Fernandina Beach (photos).
One person ran from the vehicle and two deputies ran after him. Deputy Eric Oliver, 32, was hit and killed by a vehicle on SR 200 at Chester Road during the chase. Leeper said he failed to see oncoming traffic.
Oliver's body was taken to the Duval County medical examiner. Nassau County deputies were scheduled to escort his body to a Nassau County funeral home.
"He died doing what he loved, and he'll certainly be missed,” Leeper said. "(He) was just doing his job, doing it well."
[ Photos: Nassau County deputy killed while assisting Border Patrol ]
Oliver worked for the Sheriff's Office for seven years.
The driver who hit Oliver, 45-year-old Kimberly Effler, is cooperating with officials.
Officials are continuing to search for a Hispanic man who was last seen wearing blue jeans. Leeper said there is no reason to believe that the man is dangerous. Anyone who sees a suspicious person is asked to call police.
Nassau County officials advise residents to stay away from SR-200 in Yulee and to avoid the North Hampton subdivision and adjacent golf course as the Nassau County Sheriff's Office searches for the suspect.
Both locations of the Early Impressions Development daycare are on lockdown in Nassau County. An employee at Early Impressions Development told Action News Jax that only known parents and family will be allowed to pick up children.
Step-by-Step Learning Center in Fernandina Beach and the YMCA Pryme Time in Yulee are also on lockdown.
Border Patrol agents are handling the other people found in the vehicle, Leeper said. It is not known if any of them are in custody.
Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Dylan Bryan couldn’t give any information on why Border Patrol stopped the vehicle.
Anyone with information about the crash or suspicious person is asked to call police.
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[ Nassau County Sheriff's Office: ]
It deeply saddens the Nassau County Sheriff's Office to report the passing of Deputy Eric Oliver in the line of duty. Deputy Oliver was assisting the United States Border Patrol when a suspect fled on foot. Deputy Oliver gave chase across State Road 200, when he was struck by a passing motorist.
<br/> In honor of his service to this agency and our community, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office and other public safety partners will be escorting Deputy Oliver's remains to Oxley Heard Funeral Home in Fernandina Beach between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. The escort will proceed East on State Road 200 from Interstate 95 to Oxley Heard Funeral Home. Anyone in the community wishing to pay their respects are encouraged to do so from parking areas along this route.
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