What was initially reported as a drive-by shooting has since been downgraded by Jefferson County prosecutors, although all but one of the people arrested in the incident face other charges.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Andy Pernsteiner filed a report April 22 that he and sheriff’s deputies Darrin Dotson and Brandon Przygocki stopped a car implicated in a 3 a.m. call to JeffCom 911 that same day.

According to Pernsteiner’s report, a man had called to report that his ex-girlfriend and “unknown male subjects” had taken his money and phone, and fired a shot from a gun as they drove away in a white, two-door car.

Pernsteiner wrote that he and the deputies stopped a white Chevy Monte Carlo traveling northbound on West Valley Road, about 4 miles away from the address.

The occupants included driver Justin Bricker, front passenger Bradley McCraw, rear driver’s side passenger Isaiah Hylton and rear right-side passenger Amy Groff, all four of whom were questioned and then booked into Jefferson County Jail.

When Pernsteiner frisked Groff, according to court documents, he reported finding a bulbous glass pipe with a thick residue in her left coat pocket; the residue later tested positive for methamphetamine.

When he searched the interior of the car, Pernsteiner found a pistol tucked under the driver’s seat, where he reported Hylton had appeared to be reaching down to and putting something on the floor of the car, according to charging documents.

“The pistol was in a location where it would have been difficult for the driver to have placed it there while in a seated position,” wrote Pernsteiner, who reported that he later ran the pistol’s serial number and found it had been reported stolen from Port Angeles.

According to Pernsteiner, Bricker claimed he’d been asked to give Groff and her friend a ride from Port Townsend, but he had no idea who fired the gun. Pernsteiner later found that Bricker’s driving license had been suspended

Pernsteiner reported that Groff told him either McCraw or Hylton had fired the gun, while McCraw initially said Bricker had shot the gun, before later naming Hylton, his cousin, as the shooter.

AMENDED CHARGES

While the prosecutor’s office declined to provide details about the case because it’s an ongoing investigation, certain charges have already been revised or dismissed because of additional discoveries.

McCraw remains charged with possession of a controlled substance (heroin), and is now required to post $1,000 bail. However, due to amended information, on May 1, the prosecutor’s office moved to dismiss the remaining charges of accomplice to a drive-by shooting, possessing a stolen firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree.

Hylton remains charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree and making false or misleading statements to a public servant, according to court records.

As with McCraw, due to amended information, on May 1, the prosecutor’s office moved to dismiss Hylton’s charges of accomplice to a drive-by shooting and possessing a stolen firearm, while also adding a charge of discharge of a firearm in a public place.

On April 26, the prosecutor’s office moved to dismiss the felony charges against Bricker without prejudice, exonerating him from any bail or bond.

In a declaration of counsel filed with the court, Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Julie St. Marie wrote, “Further investigation indicates that the felony charges herein [against Bricker] are not supported by the evidence in this case.”

St. Marie also wrote that the remaining charge against Bricker, of driving with a suspended license in the third degree, would be re-filed in district court.

Groff remains charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and theft in the third degree.