A picture taken earlier this year of Chris Poulin. (Submitted/ Renee Poulin)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

Subject of Ontario Amber Alert, not dangerous says Prince Albert mother

May 16, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Update: Amber Alert in Ontario was cancelled Tuesday evening after young boy was found safe.

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Fighting back tears, Renee Poulin is pleading for her son to turn himself in.

Chris Poulin, 28, and his eight-year-old son were last seen in Thunder Bay late Monday night and an Amber Alert was issued Tuesday morning by Ontario Provincial Police.

Police have said the pair could be heading toward Prince Albert and that’s likely due to the fact that’s where Chris’s mom lives and works, and where Chris lived prior to moving to Ontario last March.

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Speaking with paNOW Tuesday afternoon, Renee confirmed when her son called her earlier in the morning, he was still in Thunder Bay and feeling very scared.

“He asked me for money because he didn’t have any and I didn’t have any to give him. And he told me he didn’t have anywhere to go, that he took his SIM card out of his phone,” she said.

Renee explained her son and the boy’s mother have been involved in an on-again, off-again relationship for a number of years and had a verbal disagreement on Monday night. Chris told his mother he took his son with him, out of concern for the boy’s safety, and noted issues related to the mother’s mental health. The couple’s three other children have been apprehended. Renee has done her best to relay this information to Ontario police.

“I told them he’s not a danger to (his son) in any shape, way or form,” she said, adding her son had left the house on foot and does not have a vehicle.

In their statement Tuesday, police described Poulin as being about five feet, 11 inches in height with shoulder-length bleached blonde hair.

They’ve also explained a warrant is being sought for Poulin’s arrest on charges that include abduction, failing to provide necessities of life and unlawful confinement.

Renne said those charges are all related to this incident and have to do with the fact her son has no money.

At this time, the Amber Alert has been isolated to Ontario only.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @nigelmaxwell