Story isn’t clear - was he abducted, or was he detained for violations of the law?
I wonder if this is the same guy: http://www.npr.org/2011/10/24/141646227/u-s-aid-worker-took-up-arms-with-libyas-rebels
People should look him up in search engines. Either crazy or a leftwing nut.
OK, it looks like he may be a sniper who worked for the CIA or similar agency under a ‘freelance journalist’ cover.
The FBI even put out a ‘most wanted’ poster on him as a missing person at one point. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/kevin-patrick-dawes/view
Before going to Syria, he worked in Libya.