Local police officers were able to assist an 82-year-old Belleville man who was reported missing on Tuesday.

The man’s granddaughter, Tammy Moore, of Fairview Heights, said her grandfather went to a doctor’s appointment at 9:30 a.m. and never returned home.

James Thornton has what Moore calls “severe diabetes,” that “causes confusion and loss of direction.”

Moore said her family contacted the Belleville Police Department, fearing the worst. Thornton had last been seen at a Casey’s gas station in Steeleville.

“Around 7 p.m. and after hours of no food, drink or his insulin, a farmer in Valmeyer came to his aid,” Moore said.

The farmer, Danny Sondag, told Thornton he would call the police for him. Thornton’s truck had run out of gas on the country road near Sondag’s farm.

“The two officers got him gas and had him follow them to the police station to contact his family,” Moore said.

The officers who helped the man were Valmeyer Police Chief Tom Andres and Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jim Lansing.

Lansing said Thornton’s doctor’s appointment was only a few minutes from his house, but he ended up quite a ways away.

“It’s actually good that he ran out of gas where he did (in front of Sondag’s house),” Lansing said. “There’s not much traffic farther down the road.”

Andres said the same.

“As cold as it was, it could’ve been bad,” Andres said. “I’m glad we were able to help him.”

Both Lansing and Andres said they just did what anyone would’ve done in that situation.

“He was a very sweet man,” Lansing said. “I’m glad it all worked out.”

Moore had high praise for the officers and farmer, and said was her grandfather was OK.

“They took such good care of my granddad,” Moore said of the officers. “In height of everything that is going on in Ferguson, Mo., these two cops, the farmer, and Brittany from the gas station (Casey’s gas station in Steeleville) restored my trust in officers and citizens. My granddad is African-American and while we worried about prejudice, we received so much support from the police officers and the community.”