SEARCHERS FOR DEPUTY SEEKING WITNESSES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Continuing a fifth day of searching for Deputy Jonathan Aujay, volunteers canvassed Wrightwood businesses hoping to find anyone who had seen the missing hiker.

The volunteers, who included Aujay's father-in-law, showed photos of the 38-year-old Palmdale man, who vanished after setting off Thursday for a solo hike from Devils Punchbowl Park.

``We want to see if he's picked up any additional food, water or supplies,'' said sheriff's Sgt. Kim Ruppert of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. ``There has been absolutely no news or evidence.''

Aujay, assigned to the K-9 unit, was reported missing by his wife Thursday night after he did not return from a routine, daylong solo hike. His sport-utility vehicle was found parked at the Devils Punchbowl parking lot.

A 5-foot-10-inch, 160-pound marathoner, Aujay has been described by co-workers as an experienced outdoorsman who would be able to survive in and live off the wilderness.

``They are hoping to find someone that might have seen him the past couple of days,'' said Deputy Steve Sciacca. ``We're hoping to get an indication of whether someone might have seen him walking or running or hiking or his direction of travel.''

While the volunteers went through Wrightwood, technical search teams with helicopters and three tracking dogs continued to comb the rugged San Gabriel Mountains south of the county park.

Aujay's family is mystified by his disappearance, his mother-in-law said.

``At this point, we just don't know what to think,' said Loraine Steen.

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PHOTO (Color) (Ran in AV Edition only) Jonathan Aujay

Missing since Thursday