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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Dorner Manhunt: Search For Ex-Cop Fugitive Enters Third Day As Trail Grows Cold

Vicki Chen |
February 9, 2013 | 1:17 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

The manhunt for former LAPD officer and Navy reservist Christopher Jordan Dorner entered its third day with no new leads, as law enforcement officers searched the San Bernadino Mountains for the most wanted man in America.

The search has been hampered by blustery weather conditions that make it difficult to canvas the region. After a brief overnight hiatus due to bad weather, the dragnet continued at 7 a.m. Saturday, as officers went door-to-door looking for clues, even as the trail continued to grow cold.

Dorner, 33, has been named the suspect in a double homicide in Irvine and two officer-involved shootings in Riverside County, in which one officer was killed. He is described as African American, 6 feet tall and weighing 270 pounds. 

READ MORE: A Timeline Of Dorner's Alleged Crimes

Dorner is a former LAPD officer, now known as the most wanted man in America. (Facebook)
Dorner is a former LAPD officer, now known as the most wanted man in America. (Facebook)
San Bernadino County Sheriff John McMahon confirmed that there is no new information about Dorner's whereabouts. He also said officers are working 12-hour shifts and will continue to do so through the weekend.

Authorities vowed to continue the search until definitive evidence is found that proves Dorner is not in the area.

The National Weather Service said temperatures will climb to 31 degrees Saturday with little to no wind, mostly clear skies and no snow, preserving any tracks left overnight, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Helicopters were grounded Friday evening during a snowstorm that caused overnight temperatures to dip into the teens. With clear skies Saturday, authorities resumed the search, scouring the resorts areas and neighboring forests by land and air.

Currently, helicopters, snowcats and armored personnel carriers with snow chains are aiding in the search.

READ MORE: Dorner Manhunt: How could he survive the cold?

The search of the Big Bear area began Thursday when authorities discovered Dorner's burned out truck on a forest road. According to the San Bernadino Sun, Dorner's burned vehicle continues to be processed in Riverside. Irvine, Los Angeles and Riverside authorities are involved in the investigation of the vehicle. No information has been released about the contents of the vehicle.

The police search continues in its third day of the Big Bear ski resort area and surrounding forests. (Cary & Darla/Flickr)
The police search continues in its third day of the Big Bear ski resort area and surrounding forests. (Cary & Darla/Flickr)
Local ski resorts were shut down for the search on Thursday, but fully reopened on Friday. Sheriff McMahon defended the decision to reopen local resorts. authorities said they found no evidence indicating Dorner posed a threat to ski resort facilities.As of Saturday morning, all ski and snowboard runs were open as visitors enjoyed ideal conditions for Southern California winter sports.

READ MORE: Dorner Manhunt: Authorities Say He's No Longer A Threat To Big Bear Ski Resorts

According to Associated Press, "thousands of heavily armed police remained on the lookout throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and northern Mexico for a suspect bent on revenge and willing to die."

Armed LAPD officers are still guarding more than 40 people mentioned as targets in Dorner's online manifesto. In the piece, posted on Facebook, Dorner vowed to use "every bit of small arms training, demolition, ordnance and survival training I've been given" to bring "warfare" to the LAPD and its families.

Police presence at checkpoints along the U.S.-Mexico border has also been bolstered.

More from Neon Tommy:

Social Media Reacts to Dorner's Manifesto

Christopher Dorner: Who Is He?

All Neon Tommy articles and multimedia coverage on the Dorner manhunt can be found here.

More coverage from our USC Annenberg sister publication:

ATVN: Memorial Honors Murdered DPS Officer

ATVN: UPDATED: Search for Former LAPD Officer Focuses on Big Bear (VIDEO)

 

Reach Executive Producer Vicki Chen here; follow her on Twitter here.



 

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