Four youths were arrested after being found in possession of a replica firearm and switchblade knife by Saanich Police.
On Monday, Aug. 12, just before 4 p.m., police responded to a report that a teen had a firearm in the area of McKenzie Avenue and Borden Street.
The group was located at a bus stop at the corner of Quadra Street and McKenzie Avenue and were detained. A search of their possessions found a replica firearm and a switchblade, which resulted in the arrest of the four minors.
"All calls involving firearms create an elevated risk to the public and necessitate a priority response from police. Officers continue to encounter replica firearms regularly in the course of duty. Replicas pose a serious safety risk to the public, those that carry them, and officers responding to a call. Police are trained to treat all firearms as real until proven otherwise," noted a release from the Saanich Police Department.
The youth were later released with conditions, and the Saanich Police Department anticipates forwarding charges to the Crown for possession of weapons.
