St. Cloud Police Drone Locates Missing 73-Year-Old After Aerial Search by Over a Dozen Agencies Fails
A St. Cloud, Minnesota Police Department drone successfully located 73-year-old Ronald Statz alive in a Stearns County cornfield after more than ten search-and-rescue agencies — including a Minnesota State Patrol fixed-wing aircraft and a DNR helicopter — spent hours searching the area without success. The case highlights the unique capabilities of police drones in SAR operations.
Highlights
- St. Cloud Police Department drone located 73-year-old Ronald Statz alive in a Stearns County, Minnesota cornfield.
- More than ten search-and-rescue agencies, including a Minnesota State Patrol fixed-wing aircraft and a DNR helicopter, searched for hours without locating Statz before the drone was deployed.
- The drone's low-altitude flight and high maneuverability allowed it to cover dense cornfield terrain inaccessible to larger crewed aircraft.
- The case highlights police drones as a cost-effective, rapidly deployable asset that is becoming indispensable in modern SAR and law enforcement operations.
A police drone operated by the St. Cloud, Minnesota Police Department has successfully located 73-year-old Ronald Statz alive in a cornfield in Stearns County — after more than ten search-and-rescue agencies had spent hours combing the area without finding any trace of the missing man.
Large-Scale Search Comes Up Empty
The search operation was extensive by any measure. More than ten agencies participated, mobilizing resources that included a Minnesota State Patrol fixed-wing aircraft and a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) helicopter. Despite conducting a thorough aerial sweep of the area, none of these assets were able to locate Statz.
Police Drone Steps In at a Critical Moment
With conventional search methods exhausted, the St. Cloud Police Department deployed one of its police drones to join the effort. Operating at low altitude with a high degree of maneuverability, the drone was able to penetrate dense cornfield terrain — exactly the kind of environment that proves difficult for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to cover effectively at close range. The drone ultimately pinpointed Statz's location and confirmed he was alive.
Case Underscores the Value of Police Drones in SAR
This incident is the latest example demonstrating the distinct advantages that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) bring to search-and-rescue (SAR) missions. Compared to larger crewed aircraft, drones can be deployed rapidly, fly at low altitudes through complex terrain, and operate at a fraction of the cost — making them an increasingly indispensable tool in modern law enforcement and emergency response operations.
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