Search for Girl Moves to Mountain Cabin

Detectives on Friday searched a mountain cabin belonging to relatives of a San Bernardino police officer who reported his 4-year-old foster child missing two weeks ago.

Police said the cabin, in the town of Fawnskin near Big Bear Lake, was searched for clues to the disappearance of Alicia Armstrong, the foster daughter of Officer Craig Armstrong, 29, and his wife, Tammy, a Loma Linda nurse.

Authorities refused to specify what evidence was collected at the cabin, owned by Tammy Armstrong’s parents, but noted in a prepared statement that it does “not appear to be of significant value to the investigation.”

Craig Armstrong, who had been on personal leave since he reported his daughter missing, was placed on paid administrative leave effective Friday. Police refused to explain that action, but repeated that neither the officer nor his wife is a suspect in the disappearance.

“We are simply following up all possible leads and not ruling anybody out at this point,” San Bernardino police spokeswoman Sherrie Guerrero said.

Armstrong, a motorcycle officer with the department for six years, told investigators his daughter disappeared on July 28 at the Inland Center shopping mall in San Bernardino. He said he turned his back on Alicia to attend to her younger sister and could not find the older girl moments later.

The Armstrongs are in the process of adopting Alicia and her 18-month-old sister, whose name has not been disclosed. The girls had lived with the couple since June 7.

Pat Wolff, a spokeswoman for Child Protective Services in San Bernardino County, said confidentiality laws prevent her from saying whether Alicia’s sister has been removed from the Armstrong home in Colton.

On Wednesday, investigators searched the Armstrongs’ house and two vehicles. Guerrero refused to disclose what was confiscated, saying only that detectives are “processing evidence.”

The case also is being investigated by the FBI.