By Khalida Sarwari
San Jose police are asking the public to help locate a missing 13-year-old boy who has autism.
Jesus Garza went to bed at his home in the 300 block of North Eighth Street around 12:30 a.m. today, but when his parents checked on him at about 6:30 a.m., he wasn’t there, police said.
The boy is autistic and has the mental capacity of a 6- or 7-year-old, according to police. His speech is “slow and deliberate” and may not be easy to understand, police said.
Jesus does not have a history of running away, but police do not suspect foul play in his disappearance.
He attended Peter Burnett Middle School and is scheduled to attend Leland High School in the fall. He is currently taking summer school classes at Horace Mann Elementary School.
He is known to frequent the PetSmart at 607 Coleman Ave.
Officers have searched those sites but have not found any traces of Jesus.
He is described as Mexican-American, with black hair and black eyes. He is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He may be wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and black shoes.
San Jose police have enlisted the help of a Santa Clara County search-and-rescue team to look for him.
Anyone with information about Jesus or his whereabouts is asked to call 911 and reference San Jose police case #11-192-0170. Cellphone users may also contact the Police Department’s 911 center at (408) 277-8911.