ALEA Aviation Unit Locates Missing Center Point Man

Trussville AL

22 February, 2021

9:34 AM

Description

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — A missing 77-year-old man from Center Point was located Saturday by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Aviation Unit. Ronald Watkins, who suffers from Alzheimer's, was reported missing by his family earlier in the day. The ALEA received a request to assist the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office with the search and rescue mission just after 7 p.m. Watkins was wearing a Project Lifesaver bracelet, which was utilized by the ALEA Aviation Unit to gather a quality signal and identify his exact location. He was found near the intersection of Lake Drive and Huffman Road. Once located, Watkins was transported to a local hospital for medical screening and observation. Project Lifesaver is a program designed to rapidly locate lost individuals who may have cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer's, Down syndrome or autism. People with these special bracelets transmit a "chirp" to enable specially trained ALEA Troopers and other law enforcement officers to use handheld antennae to locate missing persons.