By Mary O’KEEFE

The search continues for Ertug Ergun, 33, an engineer from Turkey who now lives in Bakersfield who was reported missing on June 20 to the Bakersfield Police.

The search began when a member of the U.S. Department of Forestry discovered an abandoned vehicle in the parking lot of the Stonyvale Picnic area in Angeles National Forest on Friday at about 2:30 p.m. Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department from the Crescenta Valley Station responded and discovered the vehicle’s owner, Ergun, had been reported missing.

“[Ergun] was called in missing on Wednesday by someone he worked with,” said Lt. Grimes, Bakersfield Police Department.

The Montrose Search and Rescue team was called out to search the rugged terrain for the missing man on Friday with negative results. The team continued on Saturday aided by search dogs and helicopters, but again they did not find Ergun.

On Sunday, over 60 LASD search and rescue personnel from Montrose, Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley and Sierra Madre joined in the search. They were again aided by helicopters, search dogs with added help from mounted posse units.

LASD personnel have served over 600 hours in searching for Ergun.

The area where teams are searching is extremely rugged. The Stonyvale Picnic area is flat land that is very popular with visitors.

“But as soon as you leave the [picnic area] it goes straight vertical,” said Mike Leum, Montrose Search and Rescue member.

Leum has been on the search since Friday. Team members search, come back down to their homes to get something to eat, possibly grab a shower, then back up to the search.

“We have had people [up there] searching the whole time,” Leum said.

Those searching are working on information from Ergun’s co-workers and from his cellphone and global positioning system.

“Information based on his cellphone shows that he was in the Frazier Park area for about four hours, then it shows him in our [ANF] area,” Leum said.

Teams continue working with search dogs and are on foot, horseback and off-road vehicles.

“We have not found one workable clue,” Leum said. “I can tell you if I ever go missing I would like this type of effort searching for me.”

When asked if he had been on searches like this in the past he said, “Yes, the FBI missing agent.”

On May 11, FBI Special Agent Stephen Ivens went missing in the Verdugo Mountains. He was thought to have his service revolver with him when he went into the mountains and there was a concern he may be a danger to himself. Search crews did not find Ivens. For information on Ivens visit the FBI website at www.fbi.gov

Ergun is said to be an avid hiker, but it does not appear he told anyone where he would be hiking or when he would be back.

“This is a good reminder for those who go hiking to let people know what their plans are, “ Leum said.

The LASD has a hiking plan that can be easily filled out for those planning to go camping or hiking. For a copy of the plan, visit www.cvweekly.com and click on Hiking Plan in News, or go to the CV Sheriff’s Station at 4554 Briggs Ave.

The search has expanded to other areas of the Angeles National Forest including the Mount Lukens area.

Ergun is described as 33-years-old, 6’2” tall, weighing 135 pounds with brown hair. He wears glasses.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station at (818) 248-3464.

  Mary Okeefe