GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls High School senior was taken to jail after school officials found a pistol in the console of the truck he drove to school Tuesday, authorities said.

A private company that the Chester County school district hired to perform routine checks for weapons and drugs led officials to the truck. A dog, trained to find drugs and guns, alerted its handler after searching the parking lot at the Chester County Career Center, school officials said.

When asked if there was anything in the vehicle, the 17-year-old student, who attends classes at the Career Center, said his father’s 9mm Luger was in the console, according to a Chester County Sheriff’s Office report.

The truck belonged to the student’s father, Sheriff Richard Smith said. The student drove it to school because his car was broken down, Smith said. The teen had left home that morning without realizing the gun was in the truck.

“He was a good boy and had never been in trouble,” Smith said. “It’s an unfortunate situation.”

The teen was charged with having an unlawful weapon on school grounds because the school district has a policy of “no-tolerance” for weapons.

“Our District is committed to providing a safe learning environment on all school campuses,” Chester County schools Superintendent Agnes Slayman said. “We are proud our prevention system worked.”

Shawn Cetrone 803-329-4072