Missing Iranian visitor found at border crossing

SAN DIEGO — A 62-year-old man from Iran who was staying with his family in Mission Valley when he disappeared on Thursday was found safe at the San Ysidro border crossing Tuesday night, San Diego police said.

Mansour Radaei tried to cross into the United States from Mexico shortly before 11 p.m. when authorities discovered that he had been reported missing.

The family was desperate to find Radaei, and turned to the public for help in locating him, his son, Majid, said Tuesday night.

Mansour and his wife were visiting their son and his family, who recently moved to San Diego from New York. They had been here since early March, his son said.

Majid said his father, who does not speak English, liked to take the trolley to go see the city.

"He liked to discover and explore," Majid said. "He was so curious about the city."

Majid said his father left the family's home in Mission Valley about noon Thursday and was headed to the Fenton Parkway trolley station. He had not been seen since. He did not have a cellphone with him, but had his wallet, his son said.

He was last seen in the area of Old Quarry Road, near Northside Drive.

Majid said the family was distraught. His mother was having a very difficult time and was "crying all day long," he said.

He said his father did not have any major medical issues, but did sometimes suffer from stress-related issues when under pressure.

The family checked area hospitals, and Majid said he talked to Tijuana police and the U.S. consulate. He said his father was interested in Mexico, but he was unsure if he would have gone there.

"It's very baffling," he said.

He described his father as quiet, shy and religious. His physical description is Middle Eastern, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last wearing a white button-down shirt, gray slacks and black shoes. He was wearing eyeglasses, although the picture released does not show them.

Anyone with information is asked to call San Diego police at (619) 531-2000, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (888) 580-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be paid by Crime Stoppers.

Staff writer Pauline Repard contributed to this report