A dramatic traffic stop on Dec. 31 led Flagler County deputies to discover an 11-year-old boy who had been reported missing from St. Johns County three days earlier. Authorities arrested 60-year-old Darnell Hairston — identified in the sheriff’s release as a known sex offender — and booked him on multiple felony charges after the child was found inside Hairston’s pickup.
Arrest and Pursuit
Deputies say they pulled over the pickup on the morning of New Year’s Eve. After separating the adult driver and two juveniles, one of the minors told officers he had been kidnapped and feared for his life if deputies did not intervene. Body-camera footage released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office shows Hairston turning and attempting to sprint away from officers when asked to exit the vehicle; he quickly tripped and was subdued and handcuffed at the scene.
While officers restrained Hairston, the 15-year-old passenger slipped into the driver’s seat and fled. Deputies pursued the pickup down a two-lane highway; video of the chase reportedly shows the teenager attempting to steer around a police cruiser and appearing to try to force it off the road. Both vehicles lost control and crashed into a wooded area. The 15-year-old was not seriously injured and was later transferred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice after being charged as a possible co-conspirator.
Allegations From the Child
“The 11-year-old victim was clearly traumatized and in fear,” the sheriff’s office said in its release.
Investigators say the rescued child told detectives he had been lured to a campsite where Hairston allegedly choked him until he lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, the boy told officers he was threatened with a knife and a firearm, bound with shoelaces and an extension cord, and had duct tape placed over his mouth. The child also said he was held at the campsite for multiple days and later made to travel on the truck’s floorboard under a blanket.
Charges, Custody and Next Steps
Flagler County records show Hairston was charged with six felonies — including kidnapping, aggravated child abuse, robbery with a firearm, strangulation, depriving the means of protection or communication, and resisting an officer with violence — as well as at least one misdemeanor. He remains in custody on a combined bond of $425,000; no court date had been set at the time of the records review.
Two officers sustained minor injuries during the pursuit. The 15-year-old faces juvenile charges including aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, driving without a license, and resisting an officer without violence.
If You Suspect Child Abuse
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential and the hotline operates 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
