STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – On the evening of July 25,2025, after a 10-hour search, a missing 78-year-old Sterling Heights man diagnosed with dementia was found alive in a heavily wooded area of Dodge Park due to the efforts of local and state police.
The Sterling heights Police Department stated that the man had been reported missing earlier that day which prompted a full-scale search. As night fell and concerns for his safety intensified, the Michigan State Police (MSP) were called in to assist.
Recommended Videos
The Michigan State Police deployed Trooper 2, one of their helicopters, to help cover the vase and dense terrain. It has been reported that at approximately 9:30 PM, MSP’s aerial team spotted what appeared to be a person off the Dodge Park trail. Officers on the ground, responded immediately.
Upon reaching the location described by Trooper 2, officers found the man approximately 100 yards into the woods, lying in mud beneath a fallen tree and heavy branches. It’s reported that the man was too weak to talk, and officers carefully carried him out of the woods to the nearby pathway, where he was placed into the department’s Kubota utility vehicle and transported Framstead Park.
From there, the man was taken by medical personnel to the hospital. He is reported to be in a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
“There is no doubt in our minds that had it not been for the critical assistance of the Michigan State Police helicopter, this outcome could have been very different,” said Chief Andy Satterfield for the Sterling Heights Police Department. “All of the officers involved demonstrated unwavering determination, and their teamwork, skill, and refusal to give up quite literally saved a life.”
The Sterling Heights Police Department extended their deepest gratitude to the Michigan State Police, Sterling Heights Community Emergency Response Team, Citizen’s Patrol, Police Explorers, and all the officers who worked through the night.