Micah Mattson, an OG professional skateboarder, has been reported missing after last being seen in Victorville, California. The disappearance has triggered an outpouring of concern across the skateboarding world, with friends and fellow riders scrambling to spread the word that Mattson was last driving a white Toyota Tacoma — not a silver one, as some early reports suggested.
According to Shredder News, Mattson may now be in San Diego, per skater Kyle Leeper, who has been urging people to keep an eye out for him. Leeper wrote in a public post, “Please be on the look out for Micah, last seen in Victorville but possibly could be in San Diego, any info helps thank you, it’s white Tacoma not silver.” Anyone with information is being asked to contact the San Diego Police Department.
The case has drawn attention well beyond the skate world's usual circles. Jackass star Chris Pontius used his public Facebook page on Thursday to amplify the search, posting Mattson's missing flier and calling on followers to contact authorities, according to a Facebook post. Pontius wrote, “My good friend, Micah Mattson been reported missing. If anyone out there has information on his whereabouts, please call the number on this post,” and he asked people to help bring Mattson home to his family and children.
A Skateboarding Career That Spanned an Era
Mattson's Southern California roots run deeper than skateboarding alone. He is the older brother of Jared and Jonathan Mattson, founders of the San Diego-based jazz-rock duo The Mattson 2, who explained in a 2014 interview that Jonathan first learned to play drums on a kit at Micah's home in Cardiff, California, according to the Post and Courier.
Mattson's Southern California roots run deeper than skateboarding alone. He is the older brother of Jared and Jonathan Mattson, founders of the San Diego-based jazz-rock duo The Mattson 2, who explained in a 2014 interview that Jonathan first learned to play drums on a kit at Micah's home in Cardiff, California, according to the Post and Courier.
Grassroots Search Spreads Through the Skate Community
Online posts have helped spread the word about the search. Kyle Leeper has also directly asked people to look out for him, adding another voice from within the skate community pushing the search forward.
A Journey Down the I-15 Corridor
The geography of the case stretches across two counties. The article links Victorville in San Bernardino County with a possible location in San Diego. It is a route that has factored into other recent missing person cases in the region — Hoodline previously reported on a Escondido man's disappearance tied to routine travel between San Diego County and High Desert cities including Victorville.
According to the California Department of Justice, the state's missing-person statistics are compiled from missing-person entries and cancellations and are published in annual reports.
The search for Mattson continues, with people asked to share information about his whereabouts.
People with information about Mattson's whereabouts are urged to contact the San Diego Police Department at 619-531-2000, where such leads are assigned to detectives working missing person cases. According to the City of San Diego Official Website, the police department accepts reports involving people who are missing or at risk. The City of San Diego Official Website lists 619-531-2000 and 858-484-3154 for non-emergency reports, and 619-531-2065 for calls to the city's 911 center from outside San Diego.
