MALIBU—On Wednesday, December 25, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department posted on its Facebook page that on December 23, at approximately 7:30 p.m., deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills Station responded to a missing person call. The missing individual, a 78-year-old male who suffers from dementia, he left his residence at approximately 4:30 p.m. to retrieve the mail but failed to return.
The temperature was 48 degrees and dropping. Deputies initiated a search and rescue operation, broadcasting a description of the missing person over the radio and entering his information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) missing persons database. The Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Unit and the Lost Hills Search and Rescue Unit #Malibusar were also notified.
Utilizing advanced technology, deputies deployed several FAA certified Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) drones equipped with infrared capabilities to scour the area. At approximately 8:50 p.m., a UAS located the missing individual lying in a field of thick brush about a quarter mile away from his residence. He only sustained minor abrasions from a fall and was transported to a local hospital for treatment and further evaluation.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is committed to protecting and serving its communities, and the incident demonstrates the department’s dedication to ensuring public safety.
By Trevor