DOJ uses drone to find missing 68-year-old Osseo man on Tuesday

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (CBS 58) – The Department of Justice has released information that a drone was used to locate a missing person on Tuesday, August 28. A Silver Alert had been issued for a missing 68-year-old Osseo man.

“Previously, if a person had gone missing in a field or large rural area, many hours and personnel resources would have been used to search the areas,” said Attorney General Brad Schimel. “Thanks to quick thinking by the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, and DCI’s UAV pilot, law enforcement was able to quickly find this missing individual.”

The drone was used to search the field's near the missing man's home where he was found walking in the middle of a field. By using the drone officials were able to direct law enforcement to retrieve the man from the field. 

The man had been reported missing in the evening and the drone was used the following morning.

This is the first successful use of a drone to find a missing person in the Silver Alert program. Twice, DOT dynamic messaging signs on highways have played a role in a successful Silver Alert recovery. The Wisconsin Lottery has also been a key partner in the Silver Alert program’s success by displaying Silver Alerts on lottery display terminals throughout Wisconsin to both clerks and customers. Multiple Silver Alert success stories have resulted from alerts being displayed on lottery terminals.