FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA — An 11-year-old boy who had been reported missing was rescued New Year's Eve after police stopped a truck driven by a registered sex offender. The traffic stop spiraled into a chaotic scene involving a high-speed chase with a second juvenile.
Traffic Stop Leads to Rescue
Darnell Hairston, a registered sex offender, was pulled over by deputies after a witness reported seeing two juveniles in his vehicle. The witness was aware of Hairston's offender status and alerted authorities immediately.
Deputies separated the two youths from Hairston during the stop. The 11-year-old victim, missing for three days, appeared "clearly traumatized" and fearful, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Teen Steals Suspect's Truck
Hairston attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended. As deputies were securing him, a 15-year-old boy who was also in the vehicle jumped into the driver's seat of Hairston’s Ford F-150 and sped away.
The teenager led deputies on a pursuit, eventually ramming a patrol vehicle before crashing into the woods. The 15-year-old was arrested and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, with police noting he is being investigated as a possible co-conspirator in the kidnapping.
Victim Details Harrowing Ordeal
The rescued 11-year-old told investigators he was lured to a wooded campsite where Hairston allegedly choked him until he lost consciousness. He reported being threatened with weapons, bound with cords, and forced to hide on the floorboard of the truck.
While interviewing the 11-year-old victim in the hospital, the child said he was lured to a wooded campsite in Flagler Estates, where Hairston allegedly “choked him until he lost consciousness.”
A search of Hairston’s property revealed duct tape, weapons, and surveillance equipment corroborating the child's account. Hairston is now being held without bond on multiple charges, including kidnapping and aggravated child abuse.
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