A registered sex offender faces new charges after Flagler County detectives say he strangled an 11-year-old boy, tied him up and forced him to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana over three days at a campsite.
Flagler County deputies found a missing 11-year-old from St. Johns County when they stopped Darnell Hairston, 60, on US 1 on New Year's Eve.
Authorities received information that Hairston, a known sex offender, had been seen with two teenagers.
During a traffic stop, an 11-year-old boy told officers he had been kidnapped and believed Hairston was going to kill him. As deputies attempted to arrest Hairston, body camera video shows Hairston running and trying to grab the deputy's gun, but he was later subdued by deputies.
They said while officers were making the arrest, Junior Bishop, 15, drove away in Hairston's truck, nearly hitting a deputy. Bishop later crashed with the cruiser's mate.
A newly released arrest affidavit states that the 11-year-old victim was in a Snapchat group chat with Junior Bishop. The report says the victim told Bishop about a sexual assault against his friend, which Sheriff Rick Staley said may have involved Darnell Hairston.
“Hurston thought this man had information that could put him in jail. And that led to him and 15-year-old Junior Bishop hatching a plot to lure this 11-year-old to rural Flagler County,” Staley told Channel 9.
The report states the victim met Bishop near Fredrick Street and East Deep Creek Boulevard and then walked into a nearby wooded area. There, the victim said he saw blankets, pillows, beer, camp chairs and a large kitchen knife. The report states: “Darnell [Hairston] then approached the victim from behind and choked him to the point where he could not make any sound or breathe and quickly lost consciousness.”
According to the victim, when he woke up, he had his mouth taped shut and tied with shoelaces and extension cords. The report states he was fed alcohol and marijuana.
The victim told investigators that when they left the camp, he was forced to travel with a blanket at all times.
The report said Hairston told investigators he knew an 11-year-old boy was missing from St. Johns County, but could not give investigators a reason why he never told the victim's parents. Hairston told investigators he only wanted to go fishing with the victim.
The report states Hairston knew the victim because he repaired ATVs in the St. Johns County area. Deputies are now thanking a caller who reported seeing Hairston, a known sex offender, with two children.
“He potentially saved this kid's life and that's pretty amazing. It just goes to show you that if you see something, I mean literally call, say something,” said Vice Chairman Joe Baril.
“My detectives and the way I was briefed on the case, I think we all believed he was going to die that night. And our victim felt the same way. He was truly scared,” Sheriff Rick Staley said.
On Friday, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Hairston for abduction of a child under 13, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation and robbery with a deadly weapon. Detectives served the warrant at the Perry Hall Sheriff's Detention Facility, where Hairston was already being held on $125,000 bail for a previous arrest. He is currently being held without bail.
Bishop is currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Sheriff Staley says Bishop may face additional charges, but he is not cooperating with their investigation.
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