Orlando, Fla. — A 22-year-old man found inside a Volusia County motel room with a child he allegedly met online is facing serious charges.
On Thursday, Volusia deputy Royce James was searching from motel to motel for a 13-year-old girl who went missing after school.
A friend of the missing girl told Deputy James the girl was planning on meeting a man at a nearby dollar store before checking in at a hotel.
Body-camera footage shows the rescue and arrest of the suspect.
Later that night, the Sheriff’s Office said the deputy was advised of a potential suspect inside a room at the All Suite Motel at 335 N. Ridgewood Ave. in Edgewater.
When the deputy entered the room, Tyler Thompson answered the door and the girl ran into Deputy James’ arms.
Thompson told the deputy he was 22-years-old, to which Deputy James replies, “Oh you f***** up.”
The suspect was taken into custody on a charge of interference with child custody and traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child.
The Edgewater Police Department is working with the State Attorney’s Office on potential additional charges in this case.
Thompson was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail on Friday night after posting $15,000 bail.
When the child was told she’d be taken somewhere to be medically cleared and interviewed, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office said girl asked Deputy James to stay with her.
He took her to a local Department of Children and Families facility for evaluation, and then took her home.
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