Authorities in Florida are searching for a New York man -- who they briefly detained and then released -- wanted on child rape charges, Bay News 9 reported.

Police in Troy, New York contacted officers in Pinellas Park, Florida regarding the status of Jesse Sawyer Jr., 25, who is accused of raping three children and taking pictures with them earlier this month.

According to Sgt. Adam Geissenberger, officers located Sawyer near an address on U.S. Highway 19. They said Sawyer was "cooperative" while police contacted the FBI to confirm an arrest warrant.

However, after waiting for an hour without confirmation, police had to let Sawyer go.

Shortly after he was freed of custody, the FBI finally confirmed the warrant but it was too late -- Sawyer escaped from his original location near U.S. Highway 19.

Sawyer is described as 5-foot-8-inches tall and weighing 160 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. A report by Fox 23 News said everyone in the surrounding area has been notified of the incident and asked to look out for Sawyer.

Anyone with information regarding Sawyer's whereabouts is asked to call Pinellas Park Police at (727) 541-0762.