Registered sex offender attempted to grab deputy’s gun; teen driver rammed patrol vehicle.
A traffic stop on New Year’s Eve resulted in two arrests and the recovery of a missing juvenile after the driver attempted to grab a deputy’s firearm, and a teenage passenger led deputies on a chase that ended with a crash in western Flagler County.
On the morning of December 31, deputies stopped a white Ford F150 on U.S. Highway 1 near Whiteview Drive after a citizen reported witnessing suspicious activity. Deputies made contact with the driver, identified as 60-year-old Darnell Hairston of Hastings, and two juvenile passengers. Deputies asked all three to exit the vehicle.
While speaking with the occupants, deputies discovered that one of the juvenile passengers had been reported missing in St. Johns County. Deputies recovered the missing child and placed them in a patrol vehicle while the investigation continued.
As deputies gathered additional information, Hairston suddenly ran, tripping into the roadway. A brief struggle followed during which Hairston attempted to grab a deputy’s gun. Deputies quickly apprehended him and arrested him for resisting an officer with violence and attempting to deprive a law enforcement officer of their firearm.
While deputies were arresting Hairston, the other juvenile, identified as 15-year-old Junior Bishop of Hastings, got into the truck and fled the scene, nearly hitting a deputy in the roadway.
Deputies pursued Bishop southbound on U.S. 1 and then westbound on State Road 100. As the chase approached the Putnam County line, a deputy passed Bishop on the left and positioned his patrol vehicle in front of the truck to stop him. Bishop briefly entered the eastbound lane into oncoming traffic before returning to the westbound lane and intentionally ramming the deputy’s patrol vehicle. Both vehicles crashed into the woods, and Bishop’s vehicle rolled over.
Deputies apprehended Bishop after he exited the vehicle. He was arrested for aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, driving without a license, and resisting an officer without violence.
During the chase, a second deputy lost control of his patrol vehicle and struck an automotive repair building in Bunnell.
Two deputies received minor injuries during the incident. Both were treated at AdventHealth Palm Coast and released. Bishop was evaluated by medical personnel and was not injured.
Hairston is a registered sexual offender who was released from the Florida Department of Corrections in 2009 after serving time on a 12-year sentence for three counts of false imprisonment. His arrest history includes previous charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary with assault or battery, cruelty toward a wife, disorderly intoxication, lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon a child, property damage, and sexual battery.
“This was a very suspicious incident that is still under investigation by our detectives, but I am thankful that nobody was seriously hurt and that we were able to recover a missing child from this pervert’s grasp,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I also do not understand why a pervert who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2004 was released after only five years in 2009. Clearly, he has not learned anything!”
Hairston was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is being held without bond until his first appearance. Bishop was also taken to the facility and will be turned over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice after being booked.
The investigation is ongoing, including the relationship between Hairston, Bishop, and the missing juvenile.
View footage from the arrests and vehicle apprehension.
