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Police are seeking clues in the mysterious Nov. 10 disappearance of a 23-year-old Berkeley man who left home that morning to drive a friend to work and hasn’t been seen since. 

Wallace Richards was driving another friend’s Mercedes Benz, which turned in San Lorenzo up five days after he vanished, said Berkeley police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

“At this point, we are handling the matter as a missing persons case, though we treat all such cases as potential criminal cases,” Okies said. 

Neither the recovered car or other leads have turned up evidence of a criminal act, the officer added. 

Wallace is an African American with a medium complexion who is 6’3” tall and weighs about 235 pounds, according to the website wallacerichards.com, which is posting information about the disappearance. 

Friends and family members told police that Wallace met with friends in Pinole before a trip to San Francisco. He planned to return to the East Bay afterwards, they said. 

“He’s a great person, very caring and very giving,” said Paul Rose, Richards’ best friend and the creator of the website. 

When last seen, Richards was wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a lightweight Hunter Green Northface jacket and driving the golden 2002 Mercedes Benz C240 which was recovered near the corner of Embers Way and Hesperian Boulevard in San Lorenzo. 

Anyone with information is requested to call Berkeley Police at 981-5900 or e-mail the department at police@ci.berkeley.ca.us. Information may be provided anonymously.m