Missing Man and 3 Boys Are Found Safe in Angeles Forest

Sheriff’s rescue teams on Sunday located an Arleta man and three boys who were reported missing overnight in the Angeles National Forest above Altadena, deputies said.

The four hikers were found below Switzer campground in the mountains at 7:50 a.m., said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Allen. The group included Gerald Dutton, 42, his son, Nathan Dutton, 12, Dustin Trevor, 14, and Richard Lunn, 16, all from Arleta in the San Fernando Valley.

The four set out from Switzer campground at about 1:15 p.m. Saturday, planning to arrive at the Millard campground about five miles away at about 7:30 p.m., Allen said. But they failed to show up, and two search-and-rescue teams were dispatched about 10:30 p.m. to hunt for the group, the sergeant said.

Gerald Dutton said they were never lost, but that they just found the going rougher than expected. A group of hikers told Dutton’s party that the trail was blocked, so he doubled back and chose an alternate route, Dutton said after a sheriff’s helicopter found him and the boys.