Bear Valley Search and Rescue volunteers got an early start this morning, as they have been assisting the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in locating a missing individual off Highway 18 in the Arctic Circle area. At about 1:15am this morning, January 4, a California Highway Patrol officer located an empty vehicle, parked at Lakeview Point on Highway 18. A check of the vehicle indicated that it belongs to a person listed as missing, though that individual’s name and place of residence have not yet been released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. At 3:43am, search and rescue teams were called in, and have since used over-the-side rope repelling procedures to look for the missing person, whose body was found over the steep embankment at 6:19am today. Sheriff’s helicopters are assisting in recovery operations, and the San Bernardino County Coroner has been notified. Pending identification and contact to family, the name of the deceased will be released.
Update: Recovery efforts wrapped just before noon today, and the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as 81-year-old Julius Tinsley of Arcadia, California, the man who had been reported missing to the Arcadia Police Department on January 1. Mr. Tinsley’s body was found about 300 feet over the steep embankment from Lakeview Point and though the incident is believed to have been accidental, the Arcadia Police Department will investigate the matter.
