A Florida man has begun the new year in jail after allegedly abducting an 11-year-old from a campsite, restraining him with shoelaces and duct tape.

The case unfolded on December 31 when the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was alerted about 60-year-old Darnell Hairston, a registered sex offender, who was traveling with two minors. One of these children had been reported missing three days prior, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. Authorities stopped Hairston’s pickup, equipped with a camper shell, on U.S. Highway 1 at Palm Coast Parkway. As he was pulled over, Hairston extended his arms out the window, seeming “anxious” and unable to keep still, deputies observed.

Noticing one of the children appeared uneasy, officers asked him to step out of the vehicle for a private conversation. During this interaction, Hairston attempted to flee but stumbled and fell on the pavement, according to police reports. A deputy managed to subdue him, though Hairston allegedly tried to wrest away her firearm during the scuffle.

Backup officers soon arrived to assist, and Hairston was apprehended. Meanwhile, the second minor reportedly drove off with the truck but was apprehended shortly after.

Investigators later interviewed the 11-year-old, who recounted a distressing ordeal.

“The 11-year-old victim was clearly traumatized and in fear,” deputies wrote.

He said he had been kidnapped after he was lured to a campsite. Hairston allegedly choked him “until he lost consciousness.” When he awoke, Hairston threatened him with a gun and knife before he tied him up with shoelaces and an extension cord and covered his mouth with duct tape, police say.

Hairston allegedly held the boy at the campsite for multiple days and forced him to lay on the floorboard of his truck while covered with a blanket when the suspect drove.

Investigators searched the suspect’s vehicle, home and campsite and found several items including duct tape, video surveillance equipment and weapons that were consistent with the victim’s statements.

In an interview after receiving his Miranda rights, Hairston allegedly admitted he knew the boy was missing but never called cops. He is facing a slew of charges including kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation and robbery with a deadly weapon. He also faces charges of resisting arrest with violence.

Hairston is at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility without bond. He’s slated to appear in court on Jan. 27. Per Florida’s sex offender registry, Hairston has previous convictions for lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under the age of 16 and false imprisonment.

Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement he hopes “this pervert will face justice” and serve the rest of his life in prison.

“Clearly, thanks to ‘see something, say something’ and our deputies recognizing the victim was very afraid, we rescued a missing child who was in fear Hairston had planned to kill him,” Staly said. “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.”