Authorities have cited a man for having a firearm in a government building after a child found it in a bag.
Officials in Lebanon said they responded to the Department of Children’s Services in the 200 block of East High Street around noon Thursday in reference to someone with a weapon.
It was discovered that a 10-year-old child, who was in a cubicle for an interview with a DCS worker, had noticed a handgun in a bag. The juvenile got the weapon out of the bag and showed it to the worker.
Authorities confirmed the gun was pointed at the worker to display it, but not in a threatening manner.
Police said the gun belonged to 34-year-old Nicholas Collier who has a handgun carry permit.
Collier, a contract worker for DCS through Omni Community Health, had placed the bag in the cubicle with the weapon inside.
He has been cited for possessing a weapon in a government building where signage indicates weapons are not allowed.
Officials said the weapon was seized. Collier has been issued a date to appear in court.
Omni representatives confirmed Collier has been suspended without pay pending the investigation. The company released the following statement Thursday:
“Earlier today, an Omni Community Health employee, Nicholes Collier, mistakenly left a handgun in his briefcase while onsite at the Lebanon-based Department of Children’s Services office. We are relieved to report that everyone at the location is safe.
Omni Community Health takes safety very seriously. Our priority is to ensure a safe environment for both the clients in our care as well as the community we serve. Possessing a weapon in the workplace is a violation of Omni Community Health’s workplace safety policy.
Upon talking with local law enforcement, the employee was cited with a misdemeanor. Mr. Collier, who has been a family services worker with Omni Community Health since June 2014, has been suspended without pay pending the results of an internal investigation.”
