Crime & Safety

Say What? Missing-Then-Found Mt. Tam Hiker 'Jen' Arrested On Warrant

The 24 year old told police she knew about the search but was dodging authorities because of the warrant.

The missing female hiker on Mount Tamalpais who was found late this morning allegedly avoided law enforcement personnel who were searching for her because she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest in Mendocino County, a Marin County sheriff’s lieutenant said.

After Jennifer Bair, 24, returned to her car at the Parkside Café in Stinson Beach, authorities learned she had a $2,500 warrant for her arrest in Mendocino County for failing to appear in court on a theft charge, Lt. Doug Pittman said.

Bair had socialized last weekend with two East Coast men in their 30s who were visiting the area and they decided to try to find a hot spring they heard about near Stinson Beach, Pittman said. They hiked along the shore and tried to scale a cliff but it was getting dark, Pittman said.

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All three headed back for the café but Bair became separated from the men, Pittman said. After waiting for her at the café, the two men, Rob and John, contacted the Stinson Beach Fire Department, Pittman said.

A park ranger was posted at Bair’s car at the café and Bair appeared around 11 a.m., Pittman said. Bair said she knew about the search but avoided contact because of the warrant, according to Pittman.

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Bair was arrested on the warrant and booked into Marin County Jail, but she might be cited and released after authorities from both counties confer, Pittman said.

--Bay City News

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