Crime & Safety
Search and Rescue Hunt for Turkish Hiker
Authorities have been searching for Ertug Ergun, an engineer from Turkey who lives in Bakersfield, for five days. His car was found at a picnic area in the Angeles National Forest, and Sierra Madre Search and Rescue was called to help locate him.
Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team members have been searching the Angeles National Forest for a missing engineer who lives in Bakersfield.
Ertug Ergun was reported missing by Bakersfield Police on June 20, according to officials. His car was found by Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s deputies in the Stonyvale Picnic Area of the Angeles National Forest on June 22 at about 2:30 p.m.
Ergun is 33-years-old and described as 6 feet 2 inches, 135 pounds, with brown hair. He wears prescription eyeglasses. Officials say he is an avid hiker and originally from Turkey.
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The search for Ergun had been going on for five days as of Wednesday. Sierra Madre SAR team members have aided L.A. County officials as well as Montrose, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley rescue teams. So far helicopters, search dogs, horses, ground search teams and vehicles have not been able to locate the missing engineer.
"There were no signs of the missing man, nor was there evidence of suspicious circumstances. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department continues to liaison with the Bakersfield Police Department," read an official news release.
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On Wednesday, the Montrose Search & Rescue Team and Off-Road Motorcycle Enforcement Team of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station searched areas south of Mount Lukens, as deputies continue the grid search of possible routes out of the forest.
Officials urge anyone with information about the Ergun to call the handling investigator, Bakersfield Police Department Detective William Hughes at (661) 326-3501. Or contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Crescenta Valley Station at (818) 248-3464.
Anyone who wants to remain anonymous can call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Correction: A secondary headline incorrectly stated that Ergun has been missing for five days. The search has been going on for five days, but officials said he was due back at work June 18.
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