GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A missing teen was found safe on Nov. 18 using drone technology, according to Gaston County Police.
The police department used its drone unit in the search for the missing and endangered person. Officers were dispatched near Fairview Drive and Dallas Bessemer City Highway to help search for the teen, who officials believed had run into the wooded area.
The drone unit pilots were able to search the area and find the missing teen using the drone's thermal technology, then helped officers get to the teen.
Once found, the teen was turned over to EMS to be treated.
“This was a perfect example of what we envisioned our drones to do,” Assistant Chief of Police Anderson Holder said.
Gaston County police first launched its drone unit in April of 2022.
The department has launched a total of 54 missions, 27 so far this year. The agency is equipped with four drones, one specific to indoor operations.
“They assist the canine unit providing coverage for tracks, they deploy anytime we deploy our swat team, our emergency response team providing overwatch and over scene security for us,” Holder said.
It is not the first time drone technology was used by the department in a missing persons case. In August, the agency’s drone unit helped find an 18-year-old hiker at Crowder’s Mountain State Park.
Drone team leader Scott Lambert said the devices allow them to cover more ground, much faster.
“A drone is just a way to get an eye in the sky it allows you to get an aerial perspective,” Lambert said. “Typically when we are doing a search scenario we are using the drone in a fairly zoomed-in pattern that way we can really focus on the ground intensely.”
Lambert said to be a drone pilot, officers must take an exam from the FAA and re-certify every two years. He added that training is done within its department's drone unit on a monthly basis.
It’s a resource that goes a long way to serve the community.
“The primary purpose is to save others and keep our officers safe,” Lambert said.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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