The Gainesville Police Department has reportedly taken a person into custody who has admitted to being involved in an altercation with a University of Florida student who has since been missing.

Christian Aguilar, 18, was last seen at 6 p.m. Thursday near Streit's Motorsports on Northwest 13th Street north of 39th Ave. He has been missing ever since and investigators believe that foul play is involved.

"We believe foul play is involved and we are asking business owners, especially in the northwest, to check around their businesses to see if he happens to be there," Gainesville police officer Ben Tobias said to Gainesville.com.

"We're asking everyone to be on the lookout for him. We have some information gained in the investigation that indicates foul play," he said.

Aguilar's father Carlos Aguilar said his son was beaten by a friend who left him in an area full of woods in northwest Gainesville. He also said that the friend was taken into custody and involuntarily committed for a mental health evaluation, following which he has gotten a lawyer.

"We are looking, and we need all of the help we can get. They were friends and got into an argument. He said he got really upset and beat up my son. The police now cannot talk to him because he has an attorney," he said.

Tobias has described the friend, 18, as a 'person of interest.'

Christian is majoring in biomedical engineering and is dating a girl whom the suspect dated previously in Miami, according to his father.

Aguilar's family and friends are searching the area of U.S. 441 between the 39th and 53rd avenues for any signs of Aguilar.

Aguilar is from Miami and lives in the Springs Complex, a UF dorm. Police described him as 5-foot-3 Friday, but friends said Aguilar is actually 5-foot-10.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 352-393-7604.