Thanks to the fast response of first responders and advanced infrared technology, a missing toddler in Michigan was safely found after wandering off in freezing temperatures.
Michigan State Police
On April 5, a 2-year-old boy was reported missing from his home in Blackman Charter Township, about an hour from Detroit. His parents informed authorities that he had been in the living room when they briefly left. Upon their return, the apartment door was open, and their child was missing.
Michigan State Troopers from Jackson County promptly initiated a search, utilizing an infrared camera installed on a helicopter. With temperatures dropping into the 40s and eventually below freezing that night, time was critical. The child was only in a diaper, which heightened the urgency.
Tactical Flight Officer Trooper Brandon Franklin and Sgt. Cole Martin were already airborne when they received the call. Both officers, being parents themselves, understood the gravity of the situation.
“On our way, we said, ‘We need to find this baby as soon as possible’,” Franklin remembered.
“We were not leaving until we located that child,” Martin added.
Within 15 minutes of reaching the area, the infrared camera detected movement in a ditch near a highway. A video released by Michigan State Police shows the moment one of the troopers exclaimed, “We got him!”
The toddler was discovered conscious, alert, and unharmed. Officers on the ground comforted the boy before escorting him to a waiting ambulance. He was transported to a nearby hospital and later reunited with his family.
“When we found that child, the first thing we do, if we find anyone, we give each other a high five in the air and then we say, ‘Yeah!’” Franklin shared.
Martin added, “We train for this and ensure that we always have positive outcomes and do not fall short of that.”
The Michigan State Police commended the collaboration between Trooper 2 and local officers from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety, describing the rescue as a success achieved through both technology and commitment.
Watch the video of the rescue below:
