Boy Takes Off Again; 8 Year Old in Foster Care Walks Nearly 12 Miles To Reunite With Father.

Akron Beacon Journal ^ | 9/5/02 | Phil Trexler

[marshmallow]

Behind the wheel of a stolen pickup truck, 8-year-old Anthony Mignano sped 70 mph toward his wish.

But the determined third- grader's reunion with his family went as fast as his drive.

In a matter of 14 hours, the boy swiped a pickup truck near his foster family's home in Twinsburg and, with his nose barely above the steering wheel, drove it 20 miles to Akron.

Then, after being caught Sunday night, he escaped from a county facility and walked almost a dozen miles to the Portage Lakes, where he was reunited with his father near his father's workplace.

``I want to come back home,'' the boy said Tuesday morning, sitting with his dad, Anthony C. Mignano, inside the gazebo on Copley Circle. ``I miss my family.''

But by afternoon Tuesday, Anthony and his 13-year-old stepsister, Alina -- who had escaped from the custody of the Summit County Children Services Board about a month ago -- were back at the agency.

Anthony's dad promised a fight to win back his children. CSB took the children in March because of allegations of sexual abuse and violence in the home.

Before he was returned to CSB custody Tuesday afternoon, Anthony smiled like a kid as he talked about his adventure behind the wheel of a stolen pickup truck and his escape from CSB.

The pale-skinned, blond-haired boy said he had grown unhappy at his foster parents' home on Chamberlin Road and decided to leave during the night Sunday.

``I wanted to see my family,'' he said.

Still dressed in pajamas, he said he packed his clothes and radio-controlled toy car, slipped through a window and walked down the street to the Chrysler Stamping Plant. His foster parents never knew he left.

Anthony said he checked two vehicles before finding the unlocked 1989 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck. Under the floor mat was a single ignition key.

Anthony said he knew ``Route 8 takes you to Akron'' and he headed south. On the way, he leaned against the seat, stretching his foot to reach the gas. Barely 4 feet tall, he positioned the rearview mirror vertically so he could see better.

He said he never passed a police officer as he drove and he boasted that he struck only one thing, a mailbox that got in the way while he searched for the headlight switch.

Anthony, who said he wants to be a race driver when he gets older, said he traveled as fast as 70 mph on the freeway. He said he honed his driving skills in previous supervised practice runs in go-carts and the family car.

``It was fun, driving that truck down the street watching deers jump across the street,'' he said.

Anthony exited on Grant Street off the highway and took the turn wide, catching the attention of motorist Debbie Turner of Akron.

``I guess I took the turn too fast,'' he said.

Turner, stunned to see a child behind the wheel, gave chase and forced him off the road on East Miller Avenue. She then flagged down a police officer.

Anthony was less than a mile from his aunt's home.

``I was mad. I tried to get away, but she wouldn't let me through,'' he said. ``I was doing 80 and it was only 30 through there.''

While police declined to charge Anthony for stealing the truck or fleeing from CSB, the truck's owner, Chrysler worker Ralph McCartney of Newton Falls, has been issued a $168 ticket for leaving the spare key inside his truck, according to police.

`I just walked out'

Anthony was in county custody about 12 hours before walking away from the Edge Street campus.

``I just walked out,'' Anthony said.

Louise Miller, a CSB spokesperson, said the facility is not locked down and Anthony simply left while staff members weren't looking.

``He looked for an opening and managed to elude the staff,'' she said.

Miller said CSB officials are considering security measures to ensure Anthony and Alina don't leave again.

However, she said reuniting the children with their parents is not yet an option, despite a police investigation that failed to produce enough evidence to substantiate the sexual abuse claims.

Mignano's three children -- his son and two stepdaughters -- were removed from their home last winter when Alina alleged Mignano had molested her. The girl's 8-year-old sister now lives with her biological father.

Tuesday, the teen-age girl told the Akron Beacon Journal that she made up the abuse story because she was angry about being grounded.

``I want to be home with my mom, my brother, my sister and my dad,'' she said. ``That's all I want.''

Violence claims

Miller said the girl's abuse allegations were ``the triggering factor. But there were other issues. This is a violent home. There (is), for a variety of reasons, a lack of security for these children to be at home. There's more to it than the sexual abuse allegations.''

Miller would not elaborate on the violence claims. She said that a reunification plan is always the goal when children are temporarily removed from their home.

``We're working toward that direction,'' she said. ``Our focus is what is best for the kids. At this time, we're not ready to unify because we don't feel the kids would be safe at home at this point in time.''

Mignano has retained Akron attorney Joseph Gorman to represent him in his fight to win back custody.

``We're going to go through the proper channels and in the end, I'm confident that the Summit County Juvenile Court system will treat Mr. Mignano and his children fairly,'' Gorman said. ``My ultimate goal is simple: reuniting those children with their parents.''

Mignano said the county's interference has lasted too long, a contention he has tried to convey for months.

``It's a shame it took my son driving a pickup truck to bring attention to our case. We just want to be a family again,'' he said.

Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com

[MeekOneGOP]

Man, when I was 8 there is no way I could have driven a car!

While police declined to charge Anthony for stealing the truck or fleeing from CSB, the truck's owner, Chrysler worker Ralph McCartney of Newton Falls, has been issued a $168 ticket for leaving the spare key inside his truck, according to police.

Somebody get me straight-- where is it against the law to leave a spare key in your vehicle?

Well, I don't about Ohio, but in Texas it is against the law to leave a key in your vehicle. It's one of those laws they wrote to protect folks against themeselves. Basically to keep car thieves jobs from being too easy. Of course a real thief can still steal a car. But it would have kept this 8 year old from endangering himself and other drivers. Gotta admire the kid - he's got guts !

[RedwM]

All little Anthony needs is a triple decker drug cocktail and he'll be just fine.

[xfmrman]

If you leave a key in your vehicle here in LaLaland (California), and it gets stolen, you would be held responsible for any damage or injuries that the thief might cause. This is what we've come to... Had a 68 Fairlane loved that boat.

[Ford Fairlane]

Mine's a 68 GT 500 Fastback

Most reliable car I have ever owned.