DOJ drone helps locate missing Osseo man

The Wisconsin Department of Justice deployed a drone earlier this

week to help authorities locate a missing 68-year-old Osseo man.

According to a press release, a DOJ Silver Alert was issued for the missing man on Tuesday in Eau Claire. The Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office requested the drone to help with the search because it has thermal imaging capabilities.

A special agent used the drone to search the fields near the missing person's home Tuesday night. The agent was able to see the man walking in the field and directed law enforcement to the location.

Deputies searched the field but because it was dark and there was fog, the man was not initially found. The search resumed in the morning and the man was located.

This is the first known success story of a drone locating a missing person after a Silver Alert was issued.

The Silver Alert program was implemented in 2014 to notify the public when an adult with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other permanent cognitive impairment is missing.

266 Silver Alerts have been issued since 2014.