The month-long manhunt for Roy Nicholson, III, ended this week, with the 29-year-old taken into custody in Columbia, Tennessee. Nicholson, who was convicted of assaulting a police officer with his vehicle, failed to surrender himself to begin a five-year sentence on January 2, as was required by the court. The Franklin Police Department confirmed the arrest.
After his no-show, a warrant was issued on January 3. After nearly a month of eluding law enforcement, Nicholson was located and arrested yesterday in Columbia at his girlfriend’s home. This development comes mere weeks after Nicholson’s birthday on January 16, when he turned 29, as WGNS Radio reported.
Nicholson’s conviction stems from an incident that occurred in April 2022 when he struck Franklin Police Sgt. Dustyn Stevens with his car during a traffic stop on I-65. He faced multiple charges, including reckless aggravated assault, evading arrest with a deadly weapon, and drug and firearms possession. The conviction led to Nicholson's sentencing in November 2024, as reported by WSMV.
In a show of lenience, Williamson County Circuit Judge Deanna Johnson allowed Nicholson to postpone his prison report date until January to sort his affairs and continue supporting his girlfriend, who was expecting their second child. "I'm going to show you some grace on this reporting issue because I know you've got a baby coming," the judge had told Nicholson, as reported by the Williamson Scene.
Assistant District Attorney Carlin Hess plans to present additional charges against Nicholson for missing his required report date. "He plans to present a misdemeanor charge of failure to report to jail to a grand jury," according to a Williamson Scene report. Nicholson is now expected to serve the original five-year sentence for the 2022 offenses.
