PLAINVILLE — An 86-year-old man who went missing from his home Thursday night was found alive in a wooded area after a coordinated search effort involving multiple agencies and drone technology.
The Plainville Police Department received a report at approximately 8:20 p.m. that the elderly resident had last been seen around 7 p.m. wearing jeans and a flannel shirt.
Due to the man’s age, the 36-degree temperature, and the time elapsed since his disappearance, Sgt. O’Connell immediately coordinated response efforts with Officers Hodson, Bailey and Waite.
The department requested assistance from the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (METRO-LEC), a regional mutual aid organization consisting of 46 cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts.
Massachusetts State Police from the Foxborough Barracks and the MSP Air Wing also responded to assist in the operation.
Within 40 minutes, METRO-LEC deployed multiple specialized teams, including its drone unit, K-9 team, tactical bicycle unit, investigative services unit, and search-and-rescue team.
Three drones conducted a grid search covering more than two miles of dense terrain near power lines in Plainville.
At 9:47 p.m., just 17 minutes after deployment, the METRO-LEC drone unit located the missing man in a wooded area near the power lines.
Search-and-rescue team members and Plainville Fire Department paramedics quickly reached the location, provided medical evaluation and transported the man to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro.
Hospital officials report the man is in stable condition.
