Drone pilot flies to the rescue of missing man in Gladstone

GLADSTONE, Mich. (WJMN) – The tree cover and terrain of the Upper Peninsula can add a layer of difficulty to search and rescue operations. Thanks to the use of drone technology, the Gladstone Public Safety Department found success from above.

According to the Safety Department, a call came in around 10 p.m. on April 25, 2024 for a missing man.

Officer Leif Sjoquist joined the Delta County Sheriff’s Department and Delta County Search and rescue. Officer Sjoquist piloted Gladstone Public Safety Department’s drone. He flew in a grid pattern for an hour, ultimately locating the 86-year-old man and directing other authorities to the man’s location.

Details of the man’s name and condition following the rescue were not made available.

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