SALINAS, Calif- Police are looking for Ruben Acosta. Acosta disappeared last Thursday after leaving the HOPE Rehabilitation Center on Brunken Avenue. Police say he’s mentally handicapped and has trouble speaking.
Missing Persosn

“At this point we are concerned because its Monday and he still hasn’t returned. He was sighted last Thursday afternoon and hasn’t been seen since,” said home care center director Gina Perata Fiallos.

Acosta left work, but he never returned to the home care facility for people with disabilities. The home’s director, Perata Fiallos says that’s rare.

“This is out of his routine and we are extremely concerned, we notified law enforcement, distributed flyers, relatives are also involved,” said Perata Fiallos

Acosta is independent, he uses MST buses for transportation and goes to thrift stores. This is the fifth missing person case on the central coast. In the last month, I asked police if they’re doing anything different this time.

“It’s on the website, twitter and we also utilize facebook. Every case is different, it’s still early to say how this one will turn out but we’re definately hopeful that we’ll be able to find Ruben,” said Lalo Villegas with Salinas Police.

Ruben Acosta has lived at the homecare facility since 1999, the director also said they are looking for ways to prevent this from happening again.

Acosta was last seen wearing a blue hooded jacket, blue jeans, and carrying a flower print handbag. He is 5-10, 206, brown eyes, black & gray hair, and has moderate mental retardation. He has the mental capacity of a 12 year-old.

If you see Acosta, you are asked to call police at 758-7321