By Nikki Hauser

Click here for the latest information on this story.

LAFAYETTE, Tenn. (WTVF) – A large-scale manhunt in Lafayette ended with the rescue of a missing one-year-old girl by a Good Samaritan.

Authorities say little girl Maybrie Like is now safe. Her mother’s boyfriend is in police custody.

For Steven James, who intervened at the right time, it was easy.

“It was a child. I would do anything for a child,” he said.

He first noticed something was wrong Friday night. The TBI issued a missing child alert and police asked to search his property. James later learned that man, Gerald Blair, was on the run after a hit-and-run accident. The Macon County Sheriff said Blair wrecked his car during the chase and fled with Maybrie into the woods near his home.

Thanks to a neighbor’s camera, James learned on Saturday morning that the two were at the creek right in front of his house.

“I pulled a gun on him to threaten him and get control of the situation,” James said of his next steps. “I told him, ‘Give me the baby. I don’t care what you do, just give me the baby…’ I think what I was actually saying was, ‘Put the baby down, go back and I’ll get the baby.'”

The two argued between them until Blair finally gave in.

“It was almost a feeling of relief, he knew it was over,” explained James, who added that he and his wife stayed with the little girl until first responders arrived.

“You could tell it was important to him. It was just a bad situation for her,” he said. “I’m glad I got to do it. Not because I wanted to be the one doing it; I’m just glad it turned out that way.”

Authorities say Blair suffered an epileptic seizure after surrendering the child. He is now facing a number of charges, including child abuse. DCS is also involved in the case.

Please note: This content is subject to a strict local market embargo. If you live in the same market as the author of this article, you are not allowed to use it on any platform.