A missing British Columbia boy was found safe and sound in Montana on Friday after he was allegedly abducted by his father during a supervised visit.
Three-year-old Alvin Barnett vanished from a Fernie Hotel during a supervised birthday visit with his father, Robert on Thursday afternoon.
Police issued an Amber Alert just after 4:00 p.m. and law enforcement officials on both sides of the border were on alert overnight.
Phillip Bruinsma says he was approached in front of the bowling alley in Whitefish by the father who asked him for money.
“Guess he was going to sleep in the car. I told him he could park in front of my house,” said Bruinsma.
Bruinsma recognized the man and the boy from the Amber alert and called police.
The boy’s father was arrested without incident and is now in police custody.
“(The boy) was safe and he is in very good condition,” said Flathead County Undersheriff Dave Lieb. “He is a happy little boy.”
Alvin has since been returned to British Columbia and Robert Barnett remains in police custody in Montana.
