A Fort Myers man is accused of breaking into the Page Field Airport and attempting to steal an airplane before crashing into a fence on Monday morning.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, Bruce Plummer, 43, broke into the airport overnight.
The suspect first got into one plane, and after being unable to start it, he got into another. LCSO states airport video shows a man exiting the first plane around midnight.
The report goes on to say video shows the tail and flaps of the second plane beginning to move and then the left engine turning on.
The suspect was able to get the plane to move but crashed into a pole and fence shortly after.
The report states that at 5:30 a.m., two maintenance workers noticed the plane off the ramp and in the grass with a broken left wing where it hit a light pole.
A tactical vest with magazines containing ammunition and an assault-style rifle was also found at the scene near the perimeter fence by airport police.
When LCSO arrived at the scene, they saw the aircraft off of the runway. The single door to the plane was open, with no one inside.
The suspect was not found on the property at that time, but deputies were able to track him down after reviewing surveillance video of him at a nearby Circle K.
Plummer’s parents say what he’s accused of doing early Monday morning, they believe, was driven by alcohol.
Deputies say he bought three Fireball Malts 50ml and a beef stick at the gas station before the incident.
“I talked to Bruce the night that happened and the day before and he was telling me he wanted to go to jail,” said Bruce Plummer, the suspect’s father. “He was drinking and he’s crying out for help.”
Blood and one empty fireball container were found inside the plane. Another was found outside the gate of the airport.
The gun found at the scene had a serial number, was reverse searched, and was found to be registered to Plummer.
A search warrant was issued for his home on Willard Street in Fort Myers, where he was arrested.
Deputies found a credit card, with the credit card’s numbers and expiration date matching that provided on the receipt from Circle K.
Several electronic items, surveillance cameras, ammunition, and a handgun were found in the home as well.
The plane’s owner states that it had been at Page Field Airport for nine months for maintenance, and he did not give anyone permission to take it.
Plummer faces charges of burglary, unoccupied conveyance armed, grand theft over $100,000 and possession of a bulletproof vest while committing certain offenses.
Plummer’s parents were shocked by the news and confused as to why their son would be wearing a bulletproof vest.
“I still don’t understand the vest and all the other things, but it is not him,” Bruce and Janet Plummer said.
They explained his experience with planes.
“He had a pilot’s license, he took lessons, but that was many years ago, he hadn’t flown in a long time,” Bruce said.
According to the FAA, Plummer had his student pilot license back in 2008. His parents say his actions are upsetting, and they want him to get help.
“He is a good person and he’s not dangerous,” said his parents. “This behavior is out of character for him, it’s all because the alcoholism has got ahold of him.”
Plummer will be in court on Wednesday and NBC2 will be there.
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Source: nbc-2
