The Pine Valley Sheriff's Substation wants your help in locating a missing person in the East County.

41-year-old Derek Michael Barge was last seen around 8:30 p.m. on July 31 at the DeAnza Springs Resort located in the 1900 block of Carrizo Gorge Road in Jacumba.  His cell phone was found on a trail just southeast of the resort just before 8:00 a.m. on August 1.  Campers at the resort reported Barge was missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department later that morning.

Barge stands 5'11 tall, weighs around 175 pounds and has short blonde hair and blue eyes.

Barge's family says they spoke with him on the night he was last seen and nothing seemed unusual.  He did mention he was having a spiritual reawakening and wanted to visit a spiritual mountain.  Family members say Barge is not an experienced hiker or outdoorsman.

Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers were called in to help search for Barge.  Due to this week's extreme heat and dangerous rocky terrain in the area, the ground search was called off.  However, SAR is working with ASTREA (the Sheriff's helicopter unit) to review search locations.

If you have seen Derek Barge or have any information on his whereabouts, call the Sheriff's Department at (858) 565-5200.

Media Contact: Detective Brad Farr
Bradley.Farr@sdsheriff.org
Pine Valley Sheriff's Substation (619) 938-8400