Juvenile arrested after bringing loaded firearm to playground

REELSVILLE -- A 16-year-old boy was arrested after bringing a loaded firearm to the playground at Reelsville Elementary School on Wednesday.

Putnam County Sheriff's Department Lt. Dwight Simmons was made aware of the situation by several juveniles while attending a baseball game at the location while off duty at 7:16 p.m.

"Simmons told me that he observed the subject remove the firearm from concealment at least twice on the playground," Investigating Officer Sgt. Gregg Slover stated. "Simmons told me that he walked near the subject as he began to conceal the weapon for the final time and identified the pistol to be real and not a toy."

Prior to calling and requesting assistance, Simmons was able to approach and disarm the juvenile of the .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol, which was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, without incident.

Upon Slover's arrival, along with Detectives Pat McFadden, Doug Nally and Matt Biggs, the firearm was secured in the sheriff's department vehicle and the juvenile was placed in handcuffs.

"Prior to placing the juvenile in my vehicle, an acquaintance of his brought an article of clothing to him and then gave me two plastic containers containing several .22 caliber bullets," Slover noted. "(His father) identified the pistol and told me the pistol was taken from a gun rack in his closet. He told me that (the juvenile) was familiar with the pistol and the other firearms in the residence that they use for hunting and he thought the children were educated well enough with the firearms to leave them alone."

During the time of the incident there was said to be a Little League baseball game being played along with at least 10 juveniles playing basketball and several children on the playground at the elementary school.

The juvenile was later transported to Ladoga's juvenile detention facility and will be facing several charges including possession of a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm on school property and dangerous possession of a firearm.