San Diego

A sheriff’s deputy who had been missing since Saturday night called his sister Tuesday and told her that the reason for his disappearance was to “take care of personal problems,” said Sgt. Bob Takeshta, public affairs officer with the Sheriff’s Department.

Samuel Abalos Valdez, 32, who hadn’t been heard from since he told his wife Saturday night that he was going to a nightclub in Mission Valley, called his sister in San Jose about 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. He would not reveal where he was, Takeshta said. Because Valdez left on his own accord, police will discontinue their search, said Dave Cohen, public information officer with the Police Department.

Takeshta said that Valdez, assigned to the Santee station, might lose his job if he fails to report to work. “If someone fails to report to work within three days, that’s considered an abandonment of job,” Takeshta said, but he added that such administrative decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

On the day Valdez disappeared, he had gone to a shooting range and later withdrew about $200 from an automated teller machine. He also visited a daughter from a previous marriage before telling his wife he was going to the nightclub.

Valdez was described by his wife and colleagues Monday as responsible and reliable.