Friends Start Search Party for Brent Bell

Update: .

More than 100 people showed up Thursday morning to aid in the search for .

Bell, 49, was last seen leaving his west Roseville home around 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16 riding his white Trek cruiser-style bicycle. According to family, Bell has been depressed about personal issues, and may have taken a handgun with him.  His family is concerned that he may have ridden his bicycle to a remote area and harmed himself.

Today, Oct. 20, marks day four of the search for Bell and day one of a community-led search within and outside the city. The search began with a prayer from Bayside West Pastor Chuck Wysong.

Wysong said he became friends with Bell after his family joined the church. Wysong joined with more than 100 others in the search for his friend.

“We’re hoping that we find him today,” Wysong said. “Our line is: We’re better together.”

About 20 teams of between four and six people began searching areas of unincorporated Roseville and within the county open space areas. Search and rescue dogs familiar with Bell’s scent led some teams.

Dee Kerr, a retired Placer County Sheriff’s Department deputy, spearheaded the search party. Kerr said Bell had about an hour of daylight left when he went missing and was not dressed for the weather.

“We know that we have a close proximity to search,” Kerr said.

Kerr said they are focusing their search of unincorporated parts of the city, and will do a light sweep of the areas covered by the Roseville Police Department.

Today’s effort is to “get the community ready to take over where they (Roseville Police Department) leave off,” Kerr said.

Dee Dee Gunther, spokesperson with the Roseville Police Department, said police have discontinued their search. On Monday, Oct. 17, Roseville Police Department officers checked bike trails and open space areas with the assistance of CHP's helicopter, but were not able to find Bell. Wednesday, 66 city employees searched areas of northwest Roseville, Gunther said. A gun holster was found near Robert C. Cooley Middle School, but police do not believe it was connected to Bell's disappearance, Gunther said.

If the volunteer-led search party, or anyone, finds a piece of property that could be linked to Bell, Gunther said not to touch it, to leave it where it was found and contact police.

Bell is a white male, 5-feet, 8-inches tall and 215 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.  He was last seen wearing a white Woodcreek All Stars T-shirt and blue jeans.

Kerr said they are asking for help from residents who know the open space areas well. Anyone interested in joining the search party can stop by Woodcreek Golf Club. They will be searching until 4:30 p.m. today with hope that they find him before that.

“His family needs closure sooner than later,” Kerr said.

Anyone who has heard from him or has any information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Roseville Police Department at 916-774-5000.

Want to join in the search?

• When: Until 4:30 p.m. today, Oct. 20
• Where: Woodcreek Golf Club, 5880 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd.

A Facebook page has been set up for information on the search for Bell: Find Brent Bell.