A Henry County man who had been missing for a month is now safe and reunited with his family after being found by an Eatonton Police Officer.
Around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Eatonton Police Department Officer Chad Burket saw a 2013 Nissan Rogue traveling the wrong way on Marion Street. Burket made a traffic stop and pulled the Nissan over in front of the Putnam County Courthouse in downtown Eatonton.
"As soon as Officer Burket made contact with the man, he realized the man had dementia," Police Chief Howell Cardwell said.
A check of the man's name and date of birth with the Georgia Crime Information Center revealed the 89-year-old was missing. Burket called EMS, and the man was taken by ambulance to Putnam General Hospital to be evaluated, and his family was notified to come get him.
"Burket did a good job," Cardwell said. "He did well to recognize from his training that the man had dementia, and he probably saved some lives by stopping him from driving the wrong direction."