Missing 78-Year-Old Iredell Man Located With Drone, Canines

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — A missing 78-year-old man with dementia was located in a heavily wooded area north of Statesville Sunday with the use of a drone and three canines.

The man, who was not identified by authorities, was spotted getting out of a blue Toyota Prius on Redemption Road. "He began acting erratically, then turned and walked up a power line trail into a heavily wooded area," a caller told the Iredell County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators responded to the area to search with a drone and canines Wilbur, Levi and Sadie, who began tracking the man's location from the vehicle.

Around 4 p.m., the man was located near a chicken house on South Chipley Ford Road. Iredell County Rescue Squad personnel treated him for mild dehydration and he was returned to his home and family, ICSO said.

The incident underscores the value of drone and canine programs, Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a statement.

"By training for situations exactly like this, we are able to save precious time in locating missing persons," he said.

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