All criminal charges have been dropped against three men arrested in Sooke this summer after being found in a vehicle with a shotgun, a semi-automatic SKS assault rifle, and a cache of drugs.
Crown counsel confirms all weapons and drug charges recommended by Sooke RCMP against Kyle Fletcher, Michael Masson, and Brady Shivak have been stayed.
The crown says it has concluded the charge assessment standard has not been met for the proposed charges, and the file has been sent back to the mounties for further investigation.
Sooke RCMP has refused comment.
Police were called to the Otter Point area in June for reports of automatic gun fire, and made the arrests after pulling over a vehicle seen driving away. In addition to the firearms, items seized in a search of the vehicle included ammunition, meth, heroin, and cocaine. RCMP said at the time they believed the group was target shooting and honing their firearm skills.