An off-duty officer, who was reporting a man driving erratically, unknowingly located a missing man from Georgia on Saturday.
Officer Nathan Laster observed Ira Thomas Lee, 75, driving down MS-28 near the Jones-Smith County boundary late Saturday afternoon.
Laster followed behind the vehicle, traveling between 20 and 30 miles per hour, and contacted Jones County Emergency Operations Center 911 operators.
Jones County Constable Danny Gibson and Deputy RH Stockman responded by conducting a traffic stop.
Lee’s relative called and was relieved to learn that he had been located safe. Lee, according to a relative, has been gone since Friday.
Ira Thomas Lee was transported to South Central Regional Medical Center for treatment and to wait for his family’s arrival.
“Great job by Officer Nathan Laster in recognizing the situation and alerting the EOC, and by Constable Danny Gibson and Deputy RH Stockman in making the traffic stop and determining Mr. Ira Thomas Lee’s missing status,” said Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin. “The efforts by these dedicated law enforcement officers led to a happy reunion and safe return of a loved one to his family. You can’t ask for a better outcome.”