Florida Man Busted with Missing Teen During Routine Traffic Stop [WATCH]

A North Carolina teenager who had been missing for nearly a month was located over the weekend during a traffic stop in Florida, leading to the arrest of a 37-year-old man, according to authorities.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy discovered the 16-year-old girl inside a vehicle driven by Joshua Magraff during a traffic stop on U.S. Route 17 near Crescent City on the evening of Sunday, March 8.

Authorities said the deputy pulled Magraff over after he was allegedly speeding along the roadway.

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In a Facebook post published Monday, March 9, the sheriff’s office said the encounter was captured on body camera footage that was later shared publicly.

According to authorities, Magraff, who is from Charlotte, North Carolina, initially told the deputy that the girl in the vehicle was his cousin.

Investigators said the story began to raise concerns when the deputy spoke with the girl during the stop.

According to the sheriff’s office, the girl told the deputy she was born in 2013, “which would make her only 12 years-old,” authorities said in the statement.

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Deputies said their suspicions increased after the girl reportedly provided false names and different dates of birth while speaking with law enforcement.

Because of those inconsistencies, the deputy placed the girl in his patrol car to continue speaking with her, according to authorities. While inside the patrol vehicle, the girl then confirmed her real name.

Once deputies identified the teen, they discovered she had been reported missing from North Carolina.

Authorities contacted the girl’s mother, who told investigators that she filed a missing persons report for her daughter on February 16.

According to the sheriff’s office, the mother also told deputies that she “did not know Magraff.”

During questioning, Magraff later changed his explanation about his relationship with the teen.

According to investigators, he told deputies that the girl was his friend. Authorities said his explanation shifted again when deputies questioned why he was traveling with a 16-year-old.

“When deputies asked him why he was hanging out with a 16-year-old his story changed to stating he thought she was 19,” the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities said Magraff also told deputies that the two had traveled to Florida to go gambling.

Following the traffic stop, deputies searched Magraff’s vehicle and discovered several items that led to additional charges.

According to the sheriff’s office, investigators found 19 counterfeit $100 bills inside the vehicle. Deputies also reported finding both synthetic marijuana and real marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia.

Based on the results of the investigation, Magraff was arrested and taken into custody.

Authorities said he faces several charges, including interference in child custody, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of counterfeit currency, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After the teen was recovered, the Florida Department of Children and Families took temporary custody of her while arrangements were made for her to be reunited with her mother, according to the sheriff’s office.

Magraff was transported to the Putnam County Jail following his arrest. Authorities said he was being held on a $9,000 bond.

Putnam County is located in northeastern Florida and sits approximately 75 miles southwest of Jacksonville.

Law enforcement officials said the discovery occurred during what began as a routine traffic stop but ultimately led to the recovery of a missing juvenile and the arrest of a suspect facing multiple criminal charges.

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