Ocean Township, NJ – A search for a missing juvenile in dropping temperatures ended in a wooded stretch along Oyster Creek after Ocean Township police deployed new drone technology to narrow the search area and locate the child.
Patrol officers were dispatched earlier in the evening to a report of a runaway juvenile. With temperatures falling and night setting in, officers began a coordinated ground search of the surrounding neighborhood and nearby wooded terrain.
Investigators utilized location-sharing data from Life360 to help focus the response. At the same time, Sgt. Michael Matelski launched the department’s unmanned aerial system, providing an overhead view of areas difficult to access on foot.
The drone, recently obtained by the Ocean Township Police Department through emergency management grant funding, allowed officers to scan dense woods along Oyster Creek. The juvenile was located in a heavily wooded area and safely recovered.
Police said the cold conditions and terrain posed potential risks had the search continued without rapid location. The department credited the integration of technology for preventing what could have escalated into a more serious situation.
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- Officers responded to a runaway juvenile report during freezing evening conditions
- Life360 data and a department drone were used to narrow the search area
- The juvenile was found safely in dense woods along Oyster Creek
Technology enhances emergency response
The department currently has three Federal Aviation Administration–licensed pilots on staff, enabling round-the-clock deployment of the drone when needed. Officials said the resource is part of a broader investment in public safety tools designed to improve response times and search operations.
Unmanned aerial systems have increasingly been used in missing person cases across Monmouth County, particularly in areas with challenging terrain. The drone program in Ocean Township was funded through emergency management grants, allowing the agency to expand its operational capabilities without drawing from local tax revenue.
The incident highlights how coordinated ground efforts combined with aerial surveillance can accelerate search operations in time-sensitive situations. Additional information on drone use in emergency services can be found through federal aviation resources and related coverage of unmanned aerial systems nationwide.
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