Sarnia authorities have accused a man from Toronto of unlawfully entering the United States by renting a Sea-Doo and crossing the St. Clair River. The incident unfolded when a man was reported missing while using a rented personal watercraft in Sarnia at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Following an inquiry, police revealed that the 40-year-old individual had rented a Sea-Doo on the Canadian side of the river at 6:45 p.m., paying in cash and setting a return time for 7:45 p.m.
Despite being contacted by the rental establishment, the man offered dubious explanations for his delay and claimed to be just 10 minutes away. Subsequent attempts to reach him were unsuccessful, with the man failing to respond to multiple calls.
The U.S. Coast Guard later discovered the Sea-Doo on the Michigan shoreline south of Sarnia a few hours after the incident. While emergency services scoured both sides of the border and surrounding waters, the man remains unaccounted for.
Authorities suspect that the man successfully carried out an illicit border crossing. Sarnia police have informed U.S. Customs and Immigration, who are now conducting an investigation into the matter.