Man, 70, armed with a pump action shotgun tried to steal a helicopter so he could fly to a hospital and shoot it up in a bizarre plan to free quarantined coronavirus patients

Jesse T. McFadden, 70, (pictured) from Michigan, allegedly called Arenac County Central Dispatch on May 17, threatening to shoot staff members

A man allegedly plotted to steal a helicopter before threatening to target a local hospital while armed with a shotgun in a bizarre plan to free coronavirus patients. 

Jesse T. McFadden, 70, from Omer, Michigan, allegedly called Arenac County Central Dispatch at 7:58 am on May 17, threatening to shoot staff members. 

Police allege the 70-year-old then drove to the Coast Guard station in Bay City in a black Ford pick-up truck, armed with a machine gun, with the intention of stealing a helicopter. 

This would then 'further his plan to attack a police station and shoot up a local hospital,' according to the affidavit. 

McFadden also said he would go to a Standish hospital to shoot out the power and demand keys to ambulances, Hampton Township Police Lt. Michael Wedding said.  

Arenac County Central Dispatch passed on the information to police, who were warned McFadden could have a machine gun on his possession. 

McFadden arrived at the Coast Guard station at 2405 Weadock Highway in Essexville at around 10:37 am. 

He allegedly tried to gain access to the station by using the gate keypad. 

After several unsuccessful attempts at punching in the access code, he called the station communications centre and demanded access, the court document alleged. 

He threatened to ram the gate with his vehicle, according to Wedding.  

Police say this black Ford Explorer was driven by Jesse T. McFadden, who threatened to ram the gate so he could enter the facility to steal a helicopter 

The firearm was recovered from the back of his vehicle

He told the dispatcher that he 'wanted to disrupt the power to the hospital, unlock the doors, and release patients under COVID-19 quarantine.' 

He was denied access and McFadden eventually drove away from the station. At 11:17 am a Michigan State Police trooper spotted McFadden's vehicle at the Speedway gas station at 1504 Center Ave. in Hampton Township, with its driver's side door open and the engine running.  

Wedding found a .12-gauge Mossberg shotgun in the vehicle's passenger seat loaded with five shells. 'He could have literally grabbed it with one hand, pulled it up, and come out shooting,' he said. 'We were very fortunate he happened to walk into that store for two minutes.'  

McFadden was tasered, arrested and taken into custody

According to the affidavit, McFadden is a convicted felon who was found guilty of fleeing and eluding fourth degree in June 2011. 

McFadden is facing three counts of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police and one count of transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. 

He appeared before Bay County District Court for arraignment on Monday.