Missing Teen Phones Friends, Says He’s Safe
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Two days after he was last seen at school, a missing Irvine teenager telephoned two friends late Friday to say he was safe, police said Saturday.
Brandon Matthew Novoa, 16, asked the friends to tell his parents that he was OK, but he has not called them directly, police said. He was last seen about 3 p.m. Wednesday at Woodbridge High School.
“This is comforting news,” said Irvine Police Sgt. Rick Handfield. “We now believe that Brandon is choosing to stay away and has not fallen victim to any foul play in this case.”
Earlier stories that Novoa was kidnapped were untrue, investigators determined. Police had heard that Novoa had fought with one or more teenagers at a park near Springbrook South and East Yale Loop, Handfield said.
But police are still concerned about the youth because he has not contacted his family, Handfield said. Anyone with information on Novoa’s whereabouts is asked to call Irvine police at (949) 724-7165.
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