Updated at: 09/30/2009 5:02 PM | KSAX.com
By: Cristi Jessee
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Horses, Helicopters and Night Vision Help Find Missing Hubbard County Man

PARK RAPIDS, MN - An elderly man, who walked out of the Care-Age Home in Henrietta Township around 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, sparked a massive multiple-agency search effort that ended early Wednesday morning.

The Hubbard County Sheriff's Office said they first heard that 64-year-old Gary Hanson was missing from the assisted living complex for the elderly around 9 p.m. Tuesday night.

The sheriff's office said due to the anticipated cold temperatures and rough terrain surrounding the complex, they decided to call for assistance. 

Ultimately, at least 10 agencies were involved in the search including the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota State Patrol Helicopter Unit, Park Rapids Police Department, Park Rapids Police Department K-9 Unit, Hubbard County Mounted Posse, Park Rapids Fire Department, Hubbard First Responders, Hubbard County Sheriff's ATV Unit, and North Memorial Ambulance.

Using special night vision technology, the Minnesota State Patrol Helicopter eventually found Hanson around 12:15 a.m.  Hanson was found a 1/4 of a mile away from the complex. Hanson was coherent and said he had been laying in the brush for about three hours. 

The Hubbard County ATV Unit transported Hanson to the ambulance and he was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids.

According to the Hubbard County Sheriff's Office, Hanson was listed in satisfactory condition.

Written for the web by Cristi Jessee.

cjessee@ksax.com