Cobb Reporter

A Dade County High School teacher from Ringgold was arrested recently when a gun was found in her classroom.

The Dade County Sheriff's Office issued a statement shortly after 60-year-old Catherine Turner was arrested over the unloaded gun, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

"Nothing found during the investigation indicated that there was ever a threat," the Dade County Sheriff's Office said in the statement.

Turner found the unarmed firearm in a case, along with 10 unloaded rounds of ammo, inside her classroom, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Turner, following protocol, notified the school resource officer.

Turner, a forensics teacher, told police that she brought the gun to the school accidentally, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

After her arrest, Turner's daughter, Cara Crain, posted a GoFundMe page on behalf of her mother to raise funds for Turner's legal defense.

"She has been working in schools all over the North GA / TN area for 19 years where she has been teacher of the year and a part of school building programs in several districts," Crain said in the GoFundMe page. "She has sponsored many clubs, sports, and special events like Prom and Homecoming. Her time spent serving thousands of students has been some of her happiest memories in life."

Crain alleged that the gun belonged to Turner's late father, and that the case it was in had been unknowingly mixed in with boxes of art supplies Turner had brought to school for her students to use.

"Not knowing where it came from, she notified the authorities immediately," Crain said.

Law enforcement subsequently checked the serial number and found it registered in in the name of Turner's father, who had died seven years prior, Crain said.

"None of us knew this weapon existed," Crain said. "Because she had never seen nor touched this gun, my mother thought that a student had brought it to class. When confronted by authorities that it belonged to someone with her same last name, she put two and two together, but that was not enough for the authorities, who arrested her on the spot."

Turner was taken into the Dade County Jail following her arrest, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.