Reno resident found dead in Mammoth

Robert Scott Barsan, 29, of Reno, Nevada was found dead in Mammoth Lakes on September 1. A local resident found the body behind a house on Pinecrest Ave, partially clothed and unresponsive. On-call Mammoth Lakes Police Department (MLPD) officers were the first on the scene at 6:10 a.m. and quickly determined Barsan was deceased.

The cause of death is still unknown and the autopsy is being conducted through the Orange County Sheriff’s Department because of the special circumstances surrounding the death. Jennifer Hansen, of Mono County Sheriff’s Department, which is coordinating the autopsy, said the results could take a week if not longer.

The MLPD is conducting the death investigation, which is the conclusion to a “very bizarre story” according to MLPD Chief Dan Watson. At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, a Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy noticed Barsan walking on the shoulder of Highway 395 north of Bridgeport. There was “no stop involved. It was just the Deputy ensuring he was alright,” Hansen said. While talking with the deputy, Barsan asked for medical assistance and was taken to the Bridgeport Paramedic station before later being transported to Mammoth Hospital.

Mono County Behavioral Health and medical staff evaluated Barsan at the Hospital but due to privacy laws, the results of this evaluation aren’t available to the public. Around 6:30 p.m. MLPD officers responded to the Emergency Room for a patient “out of control,” Watson said. “Barsan was wandering around the ER and would not stay in bed. Officers were asked to assist in restraining him.”

After resisting the officers, Barsan was restrained and hospital staff told the officers that they were no longer needed.   At about 9:45 p.m. the officers were called back to the Emergency Room because “Barsan was again free and wandering around,” Watson said. “The officers were told that Barsan was free to leave by staff from both the Hospital and Behavioral Health.  Barsan left the emergency room voluntarily and there was no legal or medical justification to restrain him.”

A few hours later, at approximately 1:25 a.m., MLPD responded to a call from Sierra Lodge about “a man bashing a fire extinguisher against his head,” Watson said. Barsan was not staying at the Sierra Lodge but was found in the parking lot by on-site management. By reviewing a surveillance tape, the officers confirmed the man was Barsan but he had already fled with the extinguisher by the time the officers arrived.

Mammoth Lakes Fire Department also responded and helped the officers search for Barsan. The officers found the extinguisher on the upper deck of the Travel Lodge parking lot across the street from the Sierra Lodge but did not find Barsan.

When MLPD recovered his body on Monday morning, there was evidence that “an animal did some damage” to the remains, “but there are indications it was post-mortem,” said Watson. The autopsy will reveal what kind of animal was involved but “it was most likely a bear or a mountain lion. There was indication that the body had been dragged,” he said. Regardless of the animal involved, it “does not pose a danger to the public. It’s equivalent of a bear coming across a dead deer. It does not pose a threat to a live deer population,” Watson said. “I don’t want to public to fear that there is an animal in town attacking humans.”  California Department of Fish and Game personnel and Mammoth Lakes Wildlife Specialist, Steve Searles, both responded to the scene and confirmed that there is no reason for concern in the community regarding the animal.

Anyone having information regarding Barsan is encouraged to contact the Mammoth Lakes Police Department at (760) 934-2011.