Customs Officials Investigate Canadian Boy Walking Across Border

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Customs Officials Investigate Canadian Boy Walking Across Border

(Niagara Falls, Ontario, May 12, 2003) - - U.S. Customs agents are trying to figure out how a little boy with Autism apparently walked across a local Candian border crossing without anyone noticing, and at a time of such heightened security. News 4's Barbara Pinson reports.

Officials with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protectection say they are investigating the incident involving seven year old Mitchell Hernder, who was found on the American side of the Falls, about nine miles away from his Canadian home.

Meet Mitchell Hernder, a seven year old with a mild case of Autism. He's safe now, back at his Ontario home. But that wasn't the case Saturday afternoon.

Mark Hernder, Mitchell's father, said, , "At about a quarter after four, our son disappeared on us on his sister's bike. We got the neighbors and police looking for him."

But Niagara Falls Police say it was a passerby on the U.S. side of the border who spotted Mitchell wandering in and out of busy Niagara Falls Boulevard and Walnut Avenue.

Judy Hernder, Mitchell's mother, said, "I feel horrified. I never would have thought that Mitchell would have gone that far anyway. But to go over to the other side was horrible."

Mitchell's parents believe the seven year old rode his sister's bike to the Whirlpool Bridge about 3 miles away, and that he somehow tossed it into the water when he saw the "No Bikes Allowed" sign.

The Hernder's also believe Mitchell then journeyed about six miles over the bridge and into Niagara Falls - without any Customs agents taking notice.

Mark Hernder said, "It wasn't the Border Patrol that picked him up... I mean he passed through Customs into the city into downtown before he was picked up."

John Conti of the Niagara Falls Police Department said, "I asked him what city he was from. He said Niagara Falls. I asked where he went to school. He said Notre Dame, and it lead me to believe he wasn't from the U.S. - asked if he was from Canada. He said yes and he provided us with a phone number."

While Customs officials are investigating the possibility of a child crossing from one country to another undetected, many are also asking how Mitchell escaped his parents supervision in the first place.

Canadian Boy Walks into U.S. Unnoticed

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