A Mandan man was arrested earlier this week after several students reported seeing a man in a car with a gun outside Mandan High School.

The 24-year-old Mandan suspect has not been charged and has been released on bond, said Morton County Assistant State's Attorney Chris Nyhus.

Mandan Police Lt. Paul Leingang said officers were called to Mandan High School, 905 Eighth Ave N.W., at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday for a fight call involving a firearm.

Officers at the school met with six juveniles who reported seeing a man in a car outside the school with a gun, Leingang said. He said the students described the car and the gun.

The man had already left the school premises when officers arrived, he said.

The man was located about 45 minutes later in Twin City Estates, 3001 Twin City Drive, and there was a loaded handgun in his car, Leingang said. The man was arrested at that time.

Leingang said the man is a relative of a Mandan student who has had an ongoing feud with several adults.

The boy said he saw the adult men outside the school Wednesday afternoon and expected a physical encounter, so he called his relative, Leingang said.

Nyhus said the state's attorney's office is still reading police reports on the incident to determine possible charges.

Leingang said the situation could have escalated into a serious altercation.

"The fact that a guy with a loaded handgun was in front of the school is something that should make everyone's ears perk up," Leingang said. "No community is immune from a situation like that arising."

Leingang said there were about 25 students outside the school, but not all of them witnessed the incident.

"It happened in front of MHS, but it happened after school let out," he said.

Leingang said Mandan currently does not have a school resource officer, because the last school resource officer, Officer Kris Stolz, left the department. The department, which has not been fully staffed since 2005, does not know if a new officer for the position will be in place by fall.

A school resource officer has to enjoy teaching and spending time at school activities, Leingang said.

"You're really looking for a person with unique skills and abilities in that position,"he said. "That's not for everybody."

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)