An 80-year-old man with dementia was found and safely returned to his family following a coordinated rescue effort by the Sterling Heights police and their K-9 unit, as detailed in authorities' statements and body cam footage released to the public. According to a CBS News Detroit report, the man, identified as Thomas Stone, had wandered into a dense and perilous wooded area early Wednesday morning. Stone's wife woke to find him missing and promptly notified the police after her home camera system confirmed he left around 6 a.m. She also shared that her husband, whose dementia has been worsening, had a tracker on him, which initially helped police home on his location between Mound Road and Van Dyke.
Searching began the police found the man's last known position via the tracker, however, the device, unfortunately, ran out of power before they could pinpoint Stone's exact spot, which was learned through a ClickOnDetroit article, the unit's efforts were not deterred by these unfortunate turns. Instead, they enlisted the help of K-9 officers including a dog named Chip, and cutting-edge drone technology to navigate the challenging terrain. Stone was ultimately found by K-9 Chip about three-quarters of a mile west of Van Dyke Avenue, roughly an hour and a half into the search.
Upon being located, Stone appeared to be disoriented and had suffered several cuts to his hands, according to footage and statements released by the police. Immediate medical attention was provided by the Sterling Heights Fire Department before he was reunited with Delores, his wife, and their son. Delores, in an emotional recount shared by ClickOnDetroit, expressed profound relief upon her husband's safe return, mentioning that all he remembered from his ordeal was "the nice dog" that had nudged him toward the rescuers.
