A man from Florida has been taken into custody after authorities discovered an 11-year-old child, previously declared missing from St. John’s County, in the man’s truck on December 31.

As reported by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, a tip-off from an acquaintance of Darnell Hairston, a known sex offender, led police to investigate after two children were seen in his vehicle.

Authorities stopped Hairston along U.S. Highway 1 near Whiteview Drive in Bunnell. Inside his Ford F-150, they discovered the 11-year-old, who had been reportedly held against his will for multiple days, according to WESH 2.

Hairston attempted to escape on foot, but deputies managed to subdue him after a brief confrontation.

“The deputy swiftly ensured the child’s safety by placing them in the patrol vehicle before attempting to detain Hairston, who then tried to flee,” the sheriff’s office revealed in a statement.

“Hairston was subsequently taken into custody for resisting arrest with violence and attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer.”

The boy told police he had feared for his life and that Hairston choked him until he passed out, after luring him to a wooded area near Flagler Estates. Afterward, Hairston allegedly put duct around his mouth, and tied him up with an extension cord and shoelaces.

Hairsten threatened the victim with a knife and a firearm, according to investigators. Hairston then hid him on the truck’s floorboard, covered with a blanket.

Police also found a 15-year-old male inside the truck, who had been separated from Hairston while they conducted interviews. The teen allegedly got into Hairston’s truck and tried to flee the scene, but ended up crashing into a patrol car.

The 15-year-old is now facing “multiple charges,” the sheriff’s office said. He’s currently in the custody of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and being investigated as Hairston’s potential co-conspirator.

Both children were reportedly part of a Snapchat group, in the which the youngest victim allegedly warned others that Hairston was a child predator.

“Hairston thought this individual had information that could put him away in prison. And that resulted in him and Junior Bishop, the 15-year-old, concocting a plot to lure this 11-year-old into a rural area of Flagler County,” Sheriff Rick Staly told Channel 9.

Hairston is now facing additional charges that include kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation, and robbery with a deadly weapon.

“In the hours after Hairston was initially arrested, our team put in a tremendous amount of effort on this investigation — working throughout the day, night, and well into the early hours of New Year’s Day — as they followed every lead, processed multiple crime scenes, and conducted interviews to make sure this child was protected and this pervert would be arrested for the crimes he committed,” Staley said in a release.

Hairston was previously convicted on three counts of false imprisonment and lewd or lascivious offenses with a child.

His arrest history also includes, in part, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, cruelty toward wife, and assault/battery.

Hairston remains behind bars without bond. He’s scheduled for a court hearing on January 27.

[Feature Photo via Flagler County SO]