Missing Berkeley Cyclist Sighted and Safe, Say Police

A Berkeley man who went missing during a cycling trip in the Berkeley Hills on Saturday has been sighted in Roseville, Calif., according to the Berkeley Police Department (BPD). 

Anthony Michael Martin, 29, was confirmed to be safe and well by a hotel clerk in Roseville, who sent a picture of Martin to the police last night. 

“This is no longer a missing person case," said Sgt. Mary Kusmiss of the Berkeley Police Department in a press release. "Mr. Martin has voluntarily left for whatever private, personal reasons only he can speak to. We do not wish to speculate or share any further."

Martin did not appear to be in distress, Kusmiss added, stating in the press release that "as a adult, he is legally allowed to make the choices he has made."

BPD investigators have advised Martin’s girlfriend and family of the developments, and now considers this a "private matter," although an effort will still be made to speak to Martin directly.

"Some of the details of this confirmation and methods of locating him are ones that we would prefer not to share as they may compromise efforts in other/future investigations," read the press release. 

According to police, Martin voluntarily left the Berkeley area. He was reported missing by his girlfriend on Saturday, July 2, at about 10:45 p.m., after Martin had not returned from a bike ride. 

According to the girlfriend, the two had spoken earlier in the day and were to meet for dinner at 8 p.m. She arrived at his apartment that evening to find the lights off and no one home. He had told her that he was going for a bike ride and may have left at about 6 p.m., according to the BPD report.

Martin's phone was then discovered by a cyclist near the Fire Storm Memorial Garden along Tunnel Road in Oakland. 

BPD officers checked Martin's apartment, called local hospitals and coroners’ offices, and entered Martin the national missing persons database. BPD also contacted neighboring agencies and sent out a flyer with Martin’s picture on it.

Family members and friends of Martin, as well as members of the community, joined the search and helped spread the word over the holiday weekend. 

Berkeley police officials have alerted the media that they will not be doing any follow-up interviews about this case.

"We are most grateful [Martin] is not injured or worse," said Kusmiss.