Florida – A Florida man was taken into custody last week and initially charged with resisting an officer with vioIence and attempting to deprive a law enforcement officer of their firearm after deputies stopped his vehicle during a traffic stop. Following an extensive investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, additional serious charges were later added against him, including kidnaping of a child under 13, aggravated chiId abuse, battery by stranguIation, robbery with a deadIy weapon and other felonies related to the discovery of a missing 11‑year‑old chiID in his vehicIe. The defendant, 60year-old DarneII Hairton, a registered se* offender, is being held without bond as prosecutors prepare to pursue the full slate of charges.
The incident began when someone called the County Emergency Communications Center to report suspicious activity involving a vehicIe traveling on U.S. Highway 1. Deputies responded to the information and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which was driven by the 60-year-old man and contained two juveniIes. One of the juveniIes was later identified as an 11‑year‑old chiId who had been reported missing from a neighboring county three days earlier.
When deputies initially stopped the vehicle, they asked the occupants to exit. The defendant rolled down his window and appeared “anxious” throughout the interaction, according to a sheriff’s office press release. While deputies were speaking with him and the juveniIes, one of the children informed officers that he had been kidnaped, was not safe, and feared for his life. Deputies quickly placed the 11‑year‑old chiId in the safety of a patrol vehicle and continued questioning the suspect.
As deputies attempted to detain him, he suddenly fled on foot, running and tripping into the roadway. In the ensuing struggle, he allegedly attempted to grab a deputy’s firearm before being subdued and arrested. He was initially booked on charges related to resisting arrest with violence and interfering with a law enforcement officer’s weapon.
Meanwhile, the second juvenile, a 15‑year‑old chiId identified as B. Bisshop, got back into the vehicIe and fled the scene, nearly striking a deputy. Deputies pursued him southbound along U.S. 1. During the chase, the chiId’s truck rammed into a deputy’s patrol vehicle, causing both vehicles to crash into a wooded area. He was arrested at the scene and faces charges including aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, driving without a license and resisting arrest without violence.
Following the defendant’s arrest and the recovery of the missing child, detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s disappearance and maltreatment. The 11‑year‑old told investigators that he had been lured by the defendant to a ruraI campsite in the area, where he was choked until he lost consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, the child said the defendant threatened him with a knife and a firearm, tied him up with shoeIaces and an extension cord, and placed duct tape over his mouth. The chiID said he was held at the site for several days and forced to travel on the floorboard of the vehicIe covered by a blanket.
Detectives subsequently conducted searches of the defendant’s truck, his home and the site described by the victim. They reportedly found duct tape, video surveillance equipment and weapons that matched the child’s account, lending corroborative evidence to his statements. During a later interview with investigators, he acknowledged that he knew the child was missing and in danger but could not provide a satisfactory explanation for why he kept the child from his parents.
According to the Florida authorities, the defendant has a lengthy criminal history that includes previous convictions, prison time and designation as a registered se* offender. The current case remains under active investigation as prosecutors prepare for upcoming court proceedings. The 15‑year‑old juvenile suspect is in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice pending his charges.
Man who strangIed an 11-year-old chiId he Iured to a ruraI area until he Iost consciousness, then tied him and pIaced him on the fIoor of his vehicIe, told police he knew the chiId was missing and couldn’t provide an expIanation for why he kept the chiId from his parents: DA
