COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene Police detectives are seeking the public's help in locating missing person Michael D. Morehead, 49, of Coeur d'Alene.

"This is great news," said Tim Morehead, who flew in last week to search for his brother.

Morehead's family has been trying to get the news out on Facebook, but has been reluctant to agree to a news story until it surfaced that he may still be in the area.

Morehead, who owns A-Z Plumbing, was reported missing by his wife on Nov. 22. Detectives were able to verify that he stayed at the Hampton Inn and Japan House on Nov. 20-22.

When he checked out of Japan House, he indicated he was traveling to Meridian, Idaho.

Morehead's wife, Brenda, verified that he purchased several items from Cabela's on their business account. Since that time he has not been heard from. His wife initially believed he had gone hunting with a friend.

According to his brother, Tim, Morehead's hunting partner said he canceled the hunting trip on Nov. 23 and had not heard from him since then.

For several days Morehead's cell phone was not in service and he was not using any of his credit cards. That worried several family members, who started calling everyone they know to try and piece together the last time anyone saw him.

"I, being his mother, can't believe he wouldn't have called someone to say he was taking a week to get away," said Carolyn Morehead-Shaw, who stayed in California but kept constant communication with other family members.

On Monday, Morehead's cell phone was activated again and detectives were able to use the technology to determine coordinates where he could be located. They also discovered that his email account had been used over the past weekend.

The area is near Fernan Saddle in a heavily wooded part of Kootenai County. On Tuesday detectives were not able to determine any coordinates due to Morehead being too far away from a cell tower.

Morehead's family has reported that he has been suicidal in the past. Morehead's wife said he has firearms in his possession.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office searched for Morehead in the area identified by detectives but was unable to locate him or his vehicle.

Kootenai County Sheriff Lt. Stu Miller said he plans to continue to search for him today with the deputies assigned to the backcountry.

"We are going to put a plan together and get the backcountry guys out there (today) when we have a little daylight," Miller said, adding because Morehead may be suicidal, he does not want to put civilian search and rescue volunteers at risk.

Miller said Morehead's vehicle, a 2006 Gray Dodge R25 pickup with Idaho license plate K10ROE, may have been spotted the day Morehead went missing on Beauty Creek Road.

They also plan to check an area in the Silver Valley where Morehead has been know to camp.

The Forest Service has also been notified and asked to be on the lookout for him. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Coeur d'Alene Police at (208) 769-2320.