WHITEFIELD, N.H. (AP) – The Whitefield man being held on charges he tried to kidnap a boy in New Jersey last month is a former police officer who met the youngster through a homosexually oriented Web site, court documents and police say.

George Nugent, 56, is a former police officer in Lancaster, Northumberland and Litchfield, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported Tuesday. His most recent job was for a construction company in Plymouth.

He is being held without bail as a fugitive from justice from New Jersey, where he is charged with chaining a boy around the neck and trying to kidnap him.

Court documents filed by police say Nugent had had an online relationship with the 15-year-old boy for about a year after the youth posted a message on a homosexually oriented Web site saying he was confused about his sexuality. Documents say the two spoke on the phone and exchanged nude photos before Nugent pressured the boy into meeting him in June by threatening to expose him to his parents.

The boy told police they met at an abandoned house in Galloway Township, N.J. in June and again in August, when he told Nugent he didn’t want to communicate with him any longer. That’s when police say Nugent tried to force the boy into his Jeep, and tried to chain him inside the vehicle.

The boy said he fought back, biting his abductor on both forearms. He said he escaped and was found by a passing motorist with the chain still around his neck.

Nugent was arrested Wednesday at the Whitefield home he had rented for just a few months.

Nugent was tracked to New Hampshire through surveillance videos from businesses and toll roads. Court papers say Nugent’s vehicle was registered in Florida.

The Northern New England Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Portsmouth helped in the investigation and the paperwork is in Portsmouth District Court.

Nugent’s extradition hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19 in Lancaster District Court.