A Michigan police cadet had to disarm a 5-year-old child with a loaded handgun at a Battle Creek home on Saturday.

Battle Creek police said the cadet was serving a subpoena on someone at the home when the child answered the door carrying a large knife, WWMT reported. The cadet called for backup and asked the child to get an adult to come to the door, but the child came back with a loaded gun.

Backup arrived after the cadet had disarmed the kid, and two men and a woman were taken to police headquarters for questioning.

Five children — ranging in age from 6 months to 8 years — were placed into the custody of Child Protective Services because of the loaded weapon and the “deplorable” living conditions in the home.

Police said they noted several code violations, including unsanitary conditions throughout; dangerous electrical violations; lack of smoke detectiors; unpermitted electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work; inoperable vehicles; and junk and trash everywhere.

One of the children was taken to Bronson Battle Creek Hospital because of health concerns and was transferred to a hospital in Kalamazoo.

The city of Battle Creek condemned the home because of its condition, and police are pursuing weapons and neglect charges through the Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office, WXMI said.

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[Featured image: Michael Abels/WWMT]