Alert Citizen Finds Missing Autistic Boy Sleeping on Side of Road in San Carlos

A 16 year-old autistic boy, missing since Monday evening, was found unharmed early this morning by a citizen in San Carlos, according to Capt. Pat Halleran of the Belmont Police Dept. 

The boy was located sleeping on the side of the road on San Carlos Avenue near Alameda de las Pulgas. 

Tyler Edward Simmons, age 16 of Fremont, was last seen yesterday, Monday, Jan. at about 7:00pm on the campus of Ralston Middle School (2675 Ralston Avenue).

At approximately 6:30 a.m, Tuesday, police say a citizen who had seen coverage on the case on the morning news, called Belmont police reporting that Tyler was sleeping near some eucalyptus trees by the side of the road, on San Carlos Avenue near Alamdea de las Pulgas in San Carlos. Belmont PD units were dispatched to the area and located Tyler unharmed. He confirmed that he had been upset after an argument with his parents over use of his cell phone and had been walking all night until he got tired and went to sleep.

Tyler, a Carlmont High student, left school Monday at about 3:00pm and typically goes to the Belmont Public Library after school, where he is picked up by his father between 4:30- 5:00pm. However, when his father went to the library, Tyler was not there. Family members searched locations in Belmont that were known to Tyler and contacted a custodian at Ralston Middle School, who had seen Tyler on the Ralston campus at approximately 7:00pm. The family searched the area and then contacted Belmont Police at approximately 8:15pm.

Belmont Police and search dog teams from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office searched the grounds of Ralston Middle School and the surrounding neighborhood until approximately 2:30 a.m. Initial information indicated that Tyler may have left as a result of a dispute with his parents and there were no indications of foul play.

The Belmont police expressed their thanks to citizens who called in tips on the case, and especially to the citizen who found Tyler. 

“This shows the power of the media, both conventional and social networking”, said Police Chief Dan DeSmidt. 

“We were able to get the word out, not only through conventional press releases, but also on Twitter, NextDoor and the SMC Alert System”, Chief DeSmidt added. 

The Belmont Police would also thanked the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office who assisted by providing Search & Rescue Volunteers and Search Dogs in the effort to find Tyler.