Police: Man arrested with stolen gun

Madison police are reminding gun owners to safely secure firearms after taking an 18-year-old man into custody with a stolen gun.

Madison police took Paul Jackson Jr., 18, into custody around 10:15 p.m. Sunday night near Pilgrim Road on the city’s southwest side, while looking for men who fled a vehicle that contained a gun and other contraband.

Police said they discovered a loaded .22 caliber gun on Jackson, which had been reported as stolen in a prior incident. This is the third stolen handgun found in Jackson’s possession, police said. He is accused of bringing two guns to Falk Elementary School on July 28. Police said they believe one of those guns was used by another man to shoot a teenage in the shoulder. Jackson was arrested on Aug. 16 on suspicion of party to a crime of first-degree reckless injury and possession of a firearm by a person under age 18. He was released on a signature bond.

Jackson told police on Sunday that he didn’t have any weapons. Officers said they found a loaded handgun tucked in his waistband hidden beneath his shirt.

Police said the gun was reported stolen in a home burglary in January in the village of Dane.

Beside burglaries, police said they see criminals getting guns from parked vehicles, some of which have been left unlocked.