K-9 leads DCPS police to handgun in Baldwin principal’s vehicle on campus, police report reveals

A police report is revealing new details about a weapons charge against a Duval County principal. Michael Smith, principal at Baldwin Middle-Senior High School, was issued a Notice to Appear on Sept. 15 on a charge of possession of a firearm on school property, a second-degree misdemeanor. He was not taken into custody.Tip leads to K-9 deploymentAccording to his arrest report, Duval County School Police received a tip that a firearm was present on school grounds, prompting Chief of Police Jackson Short and another officer to respond to the school in Baldwin.Officers met with Smith in his office, where Chief Short read him his constitutional rights from a printed form. Smith signed the form, acknowledging he understood those rights, according to the report. Chief Short told Smith that a tip had been received alleging he had a handgun inside his vehicle, which was parked on school property. According to the report, Smith acknowledged owning a firearm but declined to consent to a search o