Juvenile told authorities he had been tied up, raped and “forced” to do things.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A naked and distraught juvenile running through a neighborhood in search of help has led authorities to the arrest of a man on charges of rape and false imprisonment, according to a news release from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Andrew Allan Pace, 63, was arrested Friday in connection with the incident at a home on Delwood Park Boulevard after in which a naked, hysterical juvenile had been seen fleeing the home at about 7:30 p.m. before telling authorities he had been tied up, raped and “forced” to do things. Pace, who said he had been trying to set up an appointment with a modeling agency for the juvenile, now faces charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment.

Pace allegedly had been luring the minor with hopes of a modeling career for about a year via online discussions, BCSO reported, although investigators believe the two met in person for the first time Friday. After the initial meeting, Pace allegedly bought alcohol for the juvenile and also might have drugged the drinks, BCSO Maj. Tommy Ford said.

“We have been and will remain committed to aggressively investigating child sex crimes,” he said. “People think this can’t happen here, but it does. This is a priority in BCSO.”

Ford said BCSO will be working closely with the State Attorney’s Office and the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center in investigating and prosecuting the case.

Deputies arrived Friday night at a nearby home, where the juvenile fled, to find him “totally nude, obviously distraught,” and making statements that he had been tied up, raped and injected with a needle. The juvenile pointed to several rings on his left hand, which he said were given to him. He also told the deputies he was afraid of everything and everyone, and the officers observed several ligature marks on the juvenile’s ankles, officers reported.

The juvenile, whose name and age were not released, was taken for treatment at a local hospital as the officers investigated the home from which he fled.

Deputies knocked on the front door of that home, and they eventually were greeted by Pace, who himself was nude and appeared to be unaware of it. Pace initially denied knowing the juvenile, but changed his response when deputies told him neighbors had witnessed the juvenile coming out of his home. Pace then told the officers the child had been staying with him in his guest room, BCSO reported.

“Pace explained he had known the juvenile for years and was setting up an appointment with a modeling agency for him,” officers wrote. “Pace stated he picked the juvenile up at around 12:30 p.m. and had taken him for lunch and to a liquor store. Pace stated he bought liquor and the two had had several drinks together that day. Pace also stated he had allowed the juvenile to send his father a message via Facebook on Pace’s personal computer.”

However, when officers went to investigate the messages, they found three makeshift restraints tied to the bed posts of Pace’s bed. One of the ropes matched the size of the indentation the juvenile had on a left ankle. Also in the bedroom was a pair of red surf rescue shorts and underwear in a size too small for Pace to wear, BCSO reported.

Pace told officers he never had a sexual relationship with the juvenile, and that the victim never entered his bedroom except to use the computer and be measured for clothing, which would be used during his modeling appointment.

“When asked where the measuring tape was, Pace seemed confused,” officers wrote.

In a locked room of the house, officers also found a man wanted on violation his probation charges. Derrick David Bohn, 35, was arrested on a warrant for grand theft and possession of hydrocodone and methamphetamine.

Neighbors in the Delwood Park neighborhood were appalled by the incident. They said Pace had only been living in home for about a month and little was known about him.

Pace does not have a criminal history in Bay County, according to court documents.