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Police continue search for cyclist in Oakland/Berkeley hills

on July 5, 2011

The Berkeley Police Department continued to search for Berkeley resident Anthony Michael Martin, a former professional cyclist, in the Berkeley and Oakland hills on Tuesday.

Martin’s cell phone was found near Tunnel Road, and he is believed to have been riding his bike in the hills when he disappeared Saturday. His cycling ability is making the search more difficult, said Sergeant Mary Kusmiss of the Berkeley Police Department. “The potential for him taking any number of routes, going between four and six jurisdictions and many miles is what’s a challenge for us,” she said. “We really need a starting point for any good search.”

Police are hoping someone in the area where there are many cycling trails — including Grizzly Peak, Wildcat Canyon, Fish Ranch Road, Pinehurst and across the hills into Orinda — will spot something that will help lead to locating Martin. He is believed to be riding a fluorescent green and white bike and wearing a blue and white helmet and street clothes.

Martin has worked as an engineer at the UC Berkeley nanofabrication laboratory for more than two years, and was a professional cyclist for three years before that.

According to Martin’s girlfriend, Amaya James, Martin had been fasting at least the three previous days before he disappeared, and had been researching cleanses and fasting. “He’s a strong, proficient bike rider and he’s used to riding a certain way,” James said, “but if he’s physically and mentally weak he may not be able to ride to that capacity.”

James said that Martin was supposed to meet her for dinner at his house at 8 p.m. Saturday. About two hours later, she received a call from the cyclist who found Martin’s phone. The next day, she found that his cycling shoes and helmet were not at his apartment.

Anyone with any information on Martin’s disappearance is encouraged to contact the Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.

5 Comments

  1. […] Updated Tuesday evening, with more info about the search from the Berkeley Police Department and Martin’s girlfriend. […]



  2. […] Martin is a strong cyclist and he could be anywhere, which complicates the search. Details at Oakland North: Police continue search for cyclist in Oakland/Berkeley hills. […]



  3. […] Kusmiss was reported missing over the holiday weekend by his girlfriend, Amaya James, who became concerned when he did not show up for a dinner planned for Saturday evening. James believed that Martin had been out on a bike ride in the Oakland or Berkeley hills area and may have weak after three days of fasting. Martin’s cell phone was found that evening by a cyclist near Tunnel Road in the Berkeley hills. Berkeley police had noted the difficulty of searching for Martin, an avid cyclist who could have covered  many miles of terrain as well as several law enforcement jurisdictions that cover the hills area. […]



  4. Mark Rinker on July 6, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    I am a distributor for RBC LIFE, a producer of holistic, nutritional, natural wellness products. My website: http://www.rbclife.com/me/mrinker.
    The disappearance of Anthony Michael Martin in the Oakland Hills on Saturday, after having fasted for three days, underscores the importance of proper nutrition.
    Bright Blessings!



    • Noneya on July 18, 2011 at 1:45 pm

      Kinda uncouth to advertise in the comment section of a missing person story, don’t you think?



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