BUNNELL, Fla. – The 911 caller credited with saving the life of an 11-year-old kidnapping victim was honored and presented with a Life Saving Award to recognize his actions.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office held the 2025 Fourth Quarter Award ceremony on Thursday, where Cody Clark was first on the list to receive recognition for calling 911 after he noticed Darnell Hairston, 60, a registered sex offender, driving along U.S. 1 with two boys in his vehicle on Dec. 31, 2025.
“Due to Cody’s vigilant observation of noticing unusual and suspicious activity, a child was brought to safety and justice was ultimately delivered to the victim and their family,” the presenter said during the ceremony.
Clark and a friend were on their way to go fishing around 6 a.m. that day when he noticed Hairston in the white pickup truck.
“We was headed fishing, (but) the only thing I caught was a pedophile that day,” he said. “That was a good catch.”
He remembered hearing that the 11-year-old was reported missing a few days prior. Though Clark did not know Hairston personally, he knew he was a registered sex offender who lived in Flagler Estates.
So, it was an immediate reg flag to Clark when Hairston passed the “only road that goes to his house.”
“Something just felt wrong,” he recalled. “So, I just run him down to see if there’s any kids in the car. My buddy confirmed it while I was driving, so I just called it in. I knew he was up to no good.”
The FCSO eventually pulled over Hairston with the two boys, 15 and 11, inside his truck.
Deputies said the 11-year-old was in a Snapchat group chat with the teen. The boy said in the chat that he thought Hairston sexually assaulted his friend, which deputies say led the teen to help lure the boy to Hairston.
The boy said Hairston choked him until he passed out, then tied him up with duct tape over his mouth.
While on the phone with a dispatcher, Clark said he was determined to see Hairston caught.
“I’m following until I see a cop pull his a** over, because he’s got two kids in his car,” the caller said. “If a cop don’t pull him over, I’m going to pull him over, and it ain’t going to be f***ing pretty.”
Clark stood by those words on Thursday.
“I told the officer if y’all don’t get here and pull him over, I will pull him over. [...] And it won’t be pretty. You’ll need an ambulance and everything else,” said Clark, who is a father to a 16-year-old son. “I’m just glad I caught him. I’m glad he’s off the street.”
Hairston was arrested and faces multiple charges for kidnapping and assault. The 15-year-old was held in the local juvenile detention center, and the 11-year-old was reunited with his family.