A Minneapolis police officer was detained at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last week when security agents found a loaded handgun in his carry-on baggage, an airport spokesman said.

Sgt. Grant Snyder, known for his work tackling sex-trafficking cases, told officials that he forgot he had his service weapon in his luggage, according to airport spokesman Pat Hogan.

He was detained by airport police officers at 10:25 a.m. Thursday in Terminal 1, the airport's main terminal. He called a family member to take his gun home and was allowed to get on his flight, Hogan said.

The case remains under investigation.

Snyder could face a misdemeanor charge of presenting a weapon at a security checkpoint.

Snyder was not available for comment, but wrote about the incident on his Facebook page.

Transportation Security Administration agents generally collect one gun a year from police officers at security gates, and every couple of months from hunters and people who have permits to carry weapons, according to Hogan.

In all instances since 9/11, it has been simply a mistake, he said.

Matt McKinney