Michigan man shoots police drone during wild standoff

A northern Michigan man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly shooting a DJI police drone out of the sky during a tense standoff with law enforcement.

Alexander J. Bessey, 21, was arrested after Michigan State Police and Oscoda Township officers responded to his home on February 11. According to authorities, Bessey was firing multiple weapons outside his property and allegedly threatened to kill himself and anyone who tried to intervene.

Police deployed a DJI Air 3 drone to assess the situation from above, but Bessey was having none of it. He allegedly pointed a shotgun at the drone and blasted it out of the sky.

The Air 3, released in July 2023, is a high-tech, dual-camera drone known for its impressive flight capabilities and long battery life. Equipped with powerful zoom and wide-angle cameras, it’s a favorite among hobbyists, professionals — and, as it turns out, law enforcement.

In this case, the police used the drone to monitor Bessey’s actions safely from a distance. The drone reportedly captured footage of him firing shots at random before he turned his weapon on the drone.

Authorities say Bessey’s father had initially alerted police after receiving disturbing messages from his son. In one text, Bessey allegedly told his father, “You’re not going anywhere,” after his parents attempted to leave the area. Concerned for their safety, they barricaded themselves inside their home while law enforcement moved in.

When police arrived, Bessey continued firing into the woods and even across a public roadway. After a standoff that lasted several hours, he finally walked out onto the road, unarmed, with his hands raised in surrender.

Bessey now faces multiple charges, including two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of police property, felony firearm possession, and reckless discharge of a firearm. If convicted, he could spend years behind bars.

Following his arrest, officers executed a search warrant at his home and seized multiple firearms, including two .22-caliber rifles, two shotguns, and an RF-15 .223-caliber rifle.

Bessey remains in custody, awaiting his preliminary court hearing on March 4.

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