Police continue search for cyclist in Oakland/Berkeley hills

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.