A student was arrested at Brainerd High School Wednesday morning after being found in possession of an unloaded handgun.
Brainerd High conducts regular "random searches" of students as part of the school's safety plan, said Hamilton County Schools spokesman Tim Hensley and the weapon was found during one of those searches this morning.
The student was arrested and transported to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center where they were charged with carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, according to a press release from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
School administrations and staff conduct the random searches in partnership with school resource officers, Hensley said.
Hensley told the Times Free Press that other schools also conduct similar random safety searches, but could not provide a list at the time.
Since the student is a juvenile, no further details were provided by the sheriff's office.
This is at least the fifth case this year involving a student being found with a handgun at school in Hamilton County.
Last month, a Hixson High School student was arrested after a school resource officer received a tip and a student at Washington Alternative School was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds.
Earlier this year, a Red Bank High student was arrested and charged after bringing a gun to school and a 12-year-old Dalewood Middle School student was found in possession of a weapon.
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.