Anonymous
Update: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
After six days of searching for a missing Casmalia man, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team has suspended search efforts pending new leads. Team members began searching for 68-year-old Robert Brusstar of Casmalia on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, in the area near Vandenberg Air Force Base where he was reportedly last seen walking on Sunday, June 9, 2019. The Aerospace Maintenance worker was known to routinely walk the primitive trails around where he lived and worked. When his work requested a welfare check due to his absence for several days, deputies found his door unlocked and his wallet, keys and cell phone in the house.
On Sunday, June 16, 2019, approximately 100 personnel, nine search dogs and 10 horses were involved in a big push to locate Brusstar. The search crews included members of the Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura County Search and Rescue Teams, Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit, California Rescue Dog Association, Vandenberg Air Force Base personnel and California Air National Guard. Santa Barbara County Air Support had been involved previously for three days of the search. Search crews carefully covered the six square mile area looking everywhere possible in hopes of finding Brusstar. Despite their best efforts, they were not able to find the missing man or any evidence of his travel.
The missing person case has now been turned over to Sheriff’s detectives. Anyone with information on Robert Brusstar’s whereabouts is asked to call 805-681-4150. To leave an anonymous tip, please call 805-681-4171 or go to our website at https://www.sbsheriff.org/
Thank you to our highly trained and dedicated volunteer Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team for its coordinated efforts in this search and to everyone who was a part of this mission.
06/14/2019
Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing Casmalia resident. 68-year-old Robert Brusstar was last seen on Sunday, June 9, 2019 walking southbound on trails that border Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) limits, south of Casmalia. On June 11, 2019, his employer, noting his absence from work, contacted the Sheriff’s Office to request a welfare check at his residence.
Following the “Check the Welfare” request, Sheriff’s deputies attempted to contact Brusstar at his residence in Casmalia and discovered the front door was unlocked, his keys, wallet and cellphone were also at the residence. Following a tip from a neighbor, deputies began searching a trail in the area that the subject is known to frequent/known to routinely walk.
Due to the thick brush and vegetation in this mountainous/rough terrain area, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team and Santa Barbara County Air Support were called in to assist with the search. Va ndenberg Air Force Personnel began assisting as well. These teams eventually relieved on-scene deputies and continued to search throughout the day until nightfall for two days. On June 13, 2019, the Search and Rescue team enhanced their search efforts by adding search dogs and the Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit. Search efforts are continuing today.
Anyone with information on Robert Brusstar’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Santa Maria sub-station at 805-934-6150. To leave an anonymous tip, please call 805-681-4171 or go to our website at https://www.sbsheriff.org/
Sad.