GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- A happy ending to a missing person's case. Police say 55-year-old Russell Roby has been found.

Russell Roby was reported missing Friday afternoon

Later found safe Saturday afternoon at a sewage treatment plant

Officials say drone surveillance helped cut down the area crews had to cover

He was reported missing from his Gaston County home Friday afternoon. Officials previously said he functions at the level of a small child and normally wears hearing aids but didn't have them when he left home.

Roby was found at a sewage treatment plant just before 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Medical workers are checking him out to see if he needs medical treatment.

Gaston Emergency Management Services says drone surveillance helped cut down the area ground crews had to cover while searching for him.

"It will obviously speed up searches and I’ve had other agencies who’ve provided training for us actually showed us how they’ve cut down their response times by a dramatic number," sergeant Mark Sigmon said.

Gaston EMS just started using a drone this year and is already applying for grants to buy more.