A police car with a K-9 officer blocks traffic on 31st Street SE on reports of a man with a gun Tuesday. (Christy Aumer/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS – Authorities were unsuccessful in locating a man with a handgun in southeast Cedar Rapids, Tuesday.

Police initially responded just before 2 p.m. to a report of suspicious people in the parking lot of an apartment building along Pioneer Avenue SE near 31st Street SE.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said one man ran away from the officer, jumped a fence and had a handgun in his possession.

Officers saturated the area and appeared focused on a wooded area. An officer with a long gun blocked access to 31st Street SE. Other officers were stopping and searching vehicles.

“We’ve exhausted our options,” Lt. Jerry Potter said. “The public should be watchful, but not in harm’s way.”

The scene is near the former Monroe Elementary School, which no longer houses students.

The search remains ongoing.