A man who was arrested at Union Station with toys and ties over the weekend allegedly planned to travel to Florida to kidnap a child, authorities say.

Devontay Shields was arrested Saturday at the station on suspicion of attempted kidnapping, according to an affidavit attached to a search warrant application for Shields’ phone filed in federal court Monday.

Law enforcement allegedly recovered a “Lankybox” toy, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure and self-cutting zip ties when they searched a bag Shields was carrying, the document said.

The investigation into Shields began on November 11, when a law enforcement source contacted special agents to advise them that Shields wanted to meet with a cooperating defendant to obtain money to travel to Florida to kidnap a child for ransom , according to the document.

Shields allegedly sent screenshots of the Fort Lauderdale private school he wanted to target, the document said.

On November 12, the law enforcement source drove Shields to the Chicago area from Danville. Shields then met with the law enforcement source and the cooperating defendant, who were wearing audio recording equipment.

During the conversation, Shields allegedly said “I’m getting a baby boy” and needed $1,000 to carry out his plan. He would demand a ransom of $100,000.

Over the next few days, Shields bought children’s toys, zip ties, a BB gun and two Amtrak tickets to Miami, the document states. He also rented a car and found a hotel room for his visit.

Shields was arrested while trying to board the train around 6.20pm on Saturday. He agreed to speak with investigators and claimed he was visiting Florida because he had “never been there before and wanted to see what it was like,” according to the document.

He admitted to buying all the items he was found with, but denied knowing anything about a plan to kidnap a child in Florida, the document states.