Deputy reassigned amid investigation into Broward County courthouse escape

BSO says no evidence 'so far' connecting Oreth Smith to Dayonte Resiles escape

Dayonte Resiles smiles while attending a hearing in the same courtroom from which he escaped.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A Broward Sheriff's Office jail deputy has been reassigned as part of an investigation into how murder suspect Dayonte Resiles was able to escape from the Broward County courthouse.

Deputy Oreth Smith was reassigned to restricted administrative duty July 25, according to a document obtained Wednesday by Local 10 News.

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Smith, 34, was directed to report to Zandra Garland in the records and warrants division, effective July 25.

"While on restricted administrative assignment, you will surrender your BSO ID card, any other symbol of authority and any BSO-issued weapons," Maj. Angelo Cedeno, director of the BSO's Division of Internal Affairs, wrote. "In addition, you are precluded from driving any BSO vehicle. You are prohibited from entering any BSO facility, except where assigned, without the approval of Internal Affairs. During this investigation, you may not discuss this Internal Affairs case with anyone except your attorney/representative and the assigned investigator."

File: Oreth Smith Restricted Administrative Assignment Memo

Smith's reassignment came 10 days after Resiles escaped from the downtown Fort Lauderdale courthouse July 15. He was captured five days later at a Days Inn in West Palm Beach.

Eight people -- twin brothers Kretron Barnes and TreVon Barnes, Winston Russell Jr., LaQuay Stern, Francine Mesadieu, Paige Jackson, Armonie Frankson-Dennis and Walter Hart -- have been arrested in connection with the escape.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said the twins sat in the courtroom while Russell and Stern waited in Stern's silver BMW on the north side of the courthouse. He said one of the twins coughed into a cellphone as Resiles made his getaway, signaling to Stern and Russell that Resiles was on his way to the car.

According to a Broward Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit, Mesadieu gave Resiles a wig, eye color-changing contacts and clothing in an effort to help him conceal his identity.

Another arrest affidavit said that Jackson spoke to Resiles on the telephone at least 15 times between July 4-7. Detectives believe she set up a series of three-way calls in order to help Resiles plan his escape.

Frankson-Dennis is accused of driving Resiles to the Oakland Park Flea Market in the days after his escape. An arrest affidavit said telephone records show that Frankson-Dennis also communicated with Russell six times -- five incoming calls and one outgoing text message -- in the moments immediately after Resiles' escape.

Hart, who is an inmate in the county jail, is also accused of helping Resiles get out of his shackles before his escape.

"The public corruption investigation continues," BSO spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said in a statement. "So far, investigators have found no evidence connecting the deputy to the Resiles' escape."

Resiles was charged with first-degree murder in the 2014 death of Jill Halliburton Su, whose body was found in a bathtub in her Davie home.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.