ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – A Robbinsville police drone helped officers locate a missing person with special needs late Wednesday night after they wandered away from home in cold and rainy weather.
Police said officers were dispatched around 10:30 p.m. to the area of Robbinsville-Edinburg Road after the individual left their residence wearing only pajamas and no shoes.
Initial ground searches were hampered by darkness and heavy rain.
During a brief pause in the weather, Patrolman Colin Lockwood deployed a department drone to aid in the search.
Drone locates missing person in wooded area
Within minutes, Lockwood spotted the individual standing motionless in a wooded area near the Ostrich Tree Farm on Pond Road.
He directed Patrolman John Cain and Patrolwoman Cassidy Kyle to the exact location, where they safely reached and escorted the person home.
Officers praised for teamwork and quick action
Police said the individual was uninjured and reunited with family shortly after being found.
The department credited its Drone Unit’s technology and the coordinated efforts of responding officers for the successful rescue.
A Robbinsville police drone helped locate a missing person with special needs late Wednesday night, safely reuniting them with family despite harsh weather.