The search for a man last seen in Rancho Cucamonga two weeks ago expanded Saturday into Claremont, on the east end of Los Angeles County.
Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and members of their search-and-rescue team focused their efforts in the foothills of Claremont according to Claremont police Sgt. Eric Huizar.
“There will likely be police activity in the area throughout the day,” he said.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department was unable to be reached for comment Saturday.
Oliver Pareece Jones, 37, of Ault, Colorado, was last seen on April 5.
The previous morning, Jones left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Paul Huebl, a private investigator working for Jones’ family. The family has said Jones suffered a concussion when he was robbed of his cell phone outside a Los Angeles nightclub.
Hospital representatives could not be reached to confirm.
While traveling from L.A. to Las Vegas on April 4, Jones and one or two relatives stopped to eat in Rancho Cucamonga at Claim Jumper, the Sheriff’s Department has said.
An argument ensued and Jones walked about a mile west to rent a room at the Four Points by Sheraton, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Teresa McMahon said he checked out early the next morning and took a taxi to Walmart, which shares a parking lot with Claim Jumper.
Jones bought clothing and camping supplies and hasn’t been seen on surveillance video since.
Some of the items he purchased were found with the help of a homeless man, Huebl said.
Witnesses have said Jones spoke of sleeping in a field behind the Walmart, according to Huebl.
“He apparently displayed some serious amount of cash,” Huebl said, leading him to question why Jones would want to sleep outdoors when he had the funds to stay another night at a hotel.
Meanwhile, the father of five who called his daughters nearly every day hasn’t been heard from, including on one of their birthdays.
“What I’m telling you,” Huebl said, “is that in this case, there are a lot of things that don’t make sense.”
