CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A 48-year-old Cleveland Heights man brought a gun to an elementary school to confront bullies who were tormenting his children, police said.

John E. Lee, Jr. was arrested Saturday after he brought a 9 mm handgun to the Noble Elementary School playground, according to a police report.

The weapon was not loaded, but investigators found four live rounds in Lee's pocket, reports say.

Police were called about 7:45 p.m. to the school on the 1200 block of Ardoon Road to check on a report of a large group of children fighting. Officers en route to the school received a report of an armed man on school grounds.

Police saw Lee arguing with a group of children near the playground, reports show. Several of them shouted that he had a gun.

Lee admitted that he had a weapon in his right pocket, police said. Officers ordered him to the ground and took him into custody.

Lee told investigators that he came to the playground to talk to some bullies that his children complained about earlier that day, reports show.

Several witnesses told police Lee brandished the weapon by pulling up his shirt and showing the gun handle. Many children involved in the incident left before police arrived.

A police spokeswoman did not answer a call on Tuesday afternoon requesting the ages of the children involved.

Lee faces felony charges of carrying a concealed weapon with ammunition at the ready, possessing weapons under disability and possessing a weapon on school premises.

Lee's case was handed over to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. He was released from jail Tuesday after posting a $10,000 surety bond.

Lee served time in prison for drug-related crimes in 1992, court records show.