Westside

BOY FOUND: A 12-year-old autistic boy was back with his family Tuesday after disappearing the day before on the UCLA campus during a nature hike with his day-care program.

Reginald Gautt of Inglewood apparently boarded a bus to Long Beach shortly after he was discovered missing about 4 p.m. Monday, said UCLA Police Capt. Terrence Baker.

Several hours later, Gautt was found wandering in a Long Beach shopping mall, and security personnel turned him over to police. The youth, who reportedly is unable to speak, remained in police custody overnight while authorities sought his identity, Baker said. He was turned over to his family Tuesday.

“It is peculiar to us how he was able to get to Long Beach with no money on him,” Baker said, adding that a witness later told police he may have seen Gautt board a bus near the Westwood campus.