POULSBO — A minor was arrested at noon Oct. 7 on suspicion of stealing a handgun from a locker at North Kitsap Community Pool, the Poulsbo Police Department reported.

The handgun — described by Deputy Police Chief Andy Pate as a “large-frame Beretta” — was reportedly stolen from a locked locker between 8 and 10 p.m. Oct. 5. The pool is open those hours for rental.

State law prohibits possessing a weapon on school grounds. “We still have an ongoing investigation” into that, Pate said.

The pool is a school and public pool located on the North Kitsap High School campus. According to state law, it is “unlawful for a person to carry onto” or possess a firearm on “public or private school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public or private schools.” A person found guilty of doing so can have his or her concealed pistol license revoked for a period of three years.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Chris Willits emailed a letter to school parents at 11:01 a.m. Oct. 6 notifying them of the alleged theft.

“On Wednesday evening … a patron of the North Kitsap Community Pool reported that their locker was broken into sometime between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Items including a wallet and firearm were reported stolen,” Willits wrote. “Poulsbo Police Department is investigating all aspects of this incident. We have notified our staff of this ongoing investigation.

“If there is information regarding this investigation that pertains to our schools, we will share that information with you.”

Pate declined to talk about the theft suspect, because the suspect is a minor. He said “there were a lot different factors” in identifying the suspect. Based on witness interviews and a timeline of events that occurred, “we narrowed it down to one possible suspect.” He added, “Having a [school resource officer] on campus made a big difference in that case.”

Pate said the suspect was taken to Poulsbo Police Department for questioning. The handgun was recovered at the suspect’s residence and the suspect was arrested.

Willits reported to parents at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7: “We are following up on communication earlier this week regarding the theft of a firearm from a locker at the North Kitsap Community Pool. The Poulsbo Police have recovered the firearm and a suspect is in custody. We would like to thank the Poulsbo Police Department for their swift action in this matter and continued support of our schools.”