Search continues for FBI agent reported missing since Thursday

Authorities continue to search for an FBI agent who was last seen at his Burbank home Thursday, when he was thought to be despondent and possibly suicidal.

Stephen Ivens, 35, a Los Angeles-based agent specializing in national security, left on foot from his home in the 1700 block of Scott Road, his family told police Friday morning.

On Saturday, a 40-member search-and-rescue team from theLos Angeles County Sheriff’s Departmentjoined about a dozen Burbank police officers and 100 FBI agents in the search for him, officials said.

It was the largest search in the city in 20 years, said Burbank police Capt. Denis Cremins.

Ivens, an avid hiker who is married and the father of a 1-year-old son, was believed to be carrying his handgun but is not considered to be a threat to anyone but himself, according to authorities. They have not said why he was despondent, and urge anyone who spots him to call authorities rather than approach him.

Bloodhounds on Saturday tracked Ivens’ scent toward the rugged Verdugo Mountains.

Ivens has been with the FBI for more than three years and before that spent eight years with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is white, 6 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. He has receding brown hair and wears prescription glasses, according to a police report.

Contact Burbank police at (818) 238-3000 or the FBI at (310) 477-6565.

-- Kim Christensen with Brittany Levine, Times Community News

Twitter: @brittanylevine