Hoax Confirmed: Boy Who Left Alarming Note At Berkley Diner Not In Danger

BERKLEY (WWJ) - It was just a joke, but police aren't laughing.

Metro Detroit was abuzz with worry Monday night after a 9-year-old boy left a note at a Berkley restaurant indicating he was in danger.

As it turns out, however, the kid was just goofing around and is fine — other than that he may be grounded for life.

The bizarre incident unfolded Monday afternoon, at Alex's Restaurant on 12 Mile Road in Berkley, where the boy scribbled a note that read: "I'm with some people. Please help me" — setting off a search.

The boy was seen on security video looking over his shoulder as he wrote the note, and then leaving with two woman and two other children. Alex's staff found the note when they were cleaning up and called police.

Investigators Monday night reached out to the public for information, and the boy's mother came forward.

Once the boy was located, said Berkley Police Lieutenant Mike Crum, it was quickly determined that the whole thing was hoax.

Police, who visited the family's home to interview boy and his family Tuesday morning, were able to confirm that everything was OK, Crum said.

He's happy so many people helped out.

"We were very thankful for the media and everybody that put it out, and we got a big response from the community; lots of phone calls and lots of information," Crum said. "So it was very helpful to identifying this young man in such a short period of time."

No legal action will be taken, Crum said, and police are confident the 9-year-old's parents will do an excellent job handling his punishment at home.