The Piedmont Police Department issued this public safety dispatch Monday evening:
"Piedmont is missing an 10-year-old autistic, non-verbal white male named "Valentino." He was on a black or blue scooter. He was last seen in the Crocker Avenue/Lincoln Avenue area. He was wearing a blue striped shirt, gray shorts and has brown hair under his helmet. Please call 510-420-3000 if you see him."
A PPD press release says the the boy — Valentino Sulimo — got separated from his father about 6:30 p.m. He was last seen wearing a dark blue shirt with light blue stripes and gray shorts or pants. He was wearing a helmet covering his brown hair. He’s approximately 4’9” weighing 80 lbs with hazel eyes.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Piedmont Police Department at 510-420-3000.According to PPD dispatch, the boy was last seen in the 300 block of Wildwood Avenue.
Sgt. Catherine Carr said the boy and his father were taking a walk together when the father lost sight of the youngster.
The boy has rung doorbells in the area, but runs when he sees a stranger, she said.
A study published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday said autistic children often wander off and may frghtened by lights and sirens as emergency responders search for them, according to this article in the Oct. 8 New York Times.
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