Missing man with dementia found near Auglaize River in Putnam County

CLOVERDALE — Drones, a bloodhound and boats were all used to find a missing 73-year-old man with dementia who had left his home in the 12000 block of Road 22-K in Putnam County Monday night and had not been seen for an extended period of time. He suffered only minor injuries. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office reported that a woman approached an Ohio State Highway Patrol sergeant who was on patrol at 8:17 p.m. and said she couldn't find her family member. The man left home and had not been seen. Family members had been looking in the usual places he could have walked to but hadn't found him. The state patrol contacted the agency's aviation unit for assistance and the county sheriff's dispatch which sent out members of the Kalida Fire Department and sheriff's deputies, including a drone operator. A trained bloodhound was also contacted. Due the proximity of the Auglaize River to the scene, boat resources were dispatched from Continental, Fort Jennings and Gilboa fire departments as well as a second drone operator from Elite Drone Services in Delphos. The male was located by a deputy and firefighter near the river - approximately a third of a mile from his last known location - at 9:13 p.m. He was stuck in the mud but was awake and alert. After nearly 20 minutes with more manpower, the male was carried out to EMS to be evaluated.