SARASOTA, FL – A loaded handgun found in the jail's booking area Thursday night has Sarasota County Jail officials wondering how it got there.

The gun was found at about 9:41 p.m. in the area where prisoners are first brought in to the jail, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said.

It was not found in the possession of any inmate, and corrections deputies and other law enforcement are not allowed to carry firearms in that part of the jail, spokesman Lt. Chuck Lesaltato said.