KINSTON, N.C. – A 23-year-old Sanderson Farms employee in Kinston, North Carolina, was arrested for possession of a concealed firearm with an altered serial number at the company’s plant.

A Kinston police statement on social media said that officers were called to the Sanderson facility about the possible presence of an armed employee.

“Once the man was located, a struggle ensued with the responding officer,” Kinston police stated. “After a foot pursuit and subsequent search of the area, the man was located along a nearby wood line bordering Hwy 70 and taken into custody without further incident.”

The suspect, Imani Jemarque Clayton, was taken into the custody after the officer responded, and there were no other incidents. 

The Kinston Free Press reported that Clayton was not an employee anymore according to Sanderson Farms CFO Mike Cockrell.

Sanderson Farms did not respond to a MEAT+POULTRY request for comment at the time of publication.