CARROLLTON — An all-out search for a missing elderly woman in Carrollton got an assist from the air last night as police called in a search helicopter to give a loudspeaker warning to an entire neighborhood.
Video captured and shared online showed the chopper hovering and addressing residents, asking them to help in the search.
Police were looking for Maria Mijes, 90, who they say suffers from Alzheimer's and is known to wander inside strangers' homes. They began going door to door around Crosby street, making announcements called "loud hailing" using their squad cars and then from the helicopter.
She was found safe and sound just a little over an hour later.
"There were so many people out looking for her," recalled neighbor Nita Madonado. "In a helicopter, they've never done that in all the years I've lived here."
The chopper is flown by the Texas Department of Public Safety and based in a hangar in Mesquite.
"When we're giving announcements, it's audibly clear. We can tell the community what we're looking for," said Lt. Clay Lacey, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Lacey said search missions are just part of what they do, helping police departments across the state. The helicopter is equipped with a 600-watt, 140-decible public-address system that can be activated by a foot switch. It is capable of cutting through the noise of the blades, loud enough to wake people and get their help in emergencies.
"You may not have a lot of time to find that individual," Lacey said.
The chopper is also equipped with an advanced thermal imagery camera, which Lacey said was used in the Carrollton search.
"The air crew found her last night using the thermal imager. I believe she was up in some bushes near the search area," Lacey said. "They were able to quickly locate her, they put the search light on her, and it's a good ending to the story."