A 15-year-old has been charged as an adult in connection with the kidnapping of a minor by a known sex offender, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. This decision follows the teenager’s arrest during a traffic stop on December 31, prompted by a report of “suspicious activity” involving a registered sex offender.

Authorities were alerted when Darnel Harisaton, 60, was observed traveling through Flagler County with two minors in his vehicle. During the traffic stop, as deputies were detaining Hairston, the teenager seized the opportunity to steal Hairston’s vehicle and attempted to escape. This bold move led to the juvenile’s apprehension and subsequent charges.

While the 15-year-old’s precise role as a co-conspirator in the kidnapping remains under investigation, the incident has shed light on the troubling situation. The traffic stop also revealed that one of the minors in the vehicle had been reported missing from St. John’s County, adding another layer of concern to the case.

The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the teenager’s involvement and bring clarity to this unsettling incident.

During the traffic stop, deputies determined that one of the minors had been reported missing in St. John’s County after speaking with the occupants in the truck.

The minor who was reported missing was placed in a patrol vehicle.

Dashcam video and body camera footage captured Hairston suddenly fleeing before running and tripping into the roadway.

“This kid was already on probation for a violent offense when he committed these new felony crimes,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I commend and support our State Attorney for charging Bishop as an adult because of the seriousness of his crimes. Frankly, if you commit serious adult felonies as a juvenile, especially when you are already on probation, you should expect to be held accountable as an adult. This is especially true when your actions could have seriously injured a deputy sheriff.”

After arresting Hairston, the 15-year-old entered the truck and fled, almost hitting a deputy in the roadway.

Dashcam video showed a deputy passing the truck and driving in front of it in an attempt to stop it. The minor “purposely rammed into the deputy’s patrol vehicle,” causing both vehicles to crash into the wood line, FCSO said.

During the crash, the truck rolled over, and a second deputy lost control of his vehicle and hit an automotive repair shop.

The 15-year-old faces felony charges that include:

• Battery on a law enforcement officer.
• Fleeing and eluding at a reckless speed.
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle.
• Resisting an officer without violence.
• Reckless driving
• Operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license.

According to deputies, each first-degree felony carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 30 years in prison.

The 15-year-old was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail and is held on $133,000 bond.