Three men and a woman have been charged after police were called to a Clayton Park apartment building early Wednesday morning and found an assault rifle on the grass outside.

A concerned neighbour contacted police after hearing what sounded like a gun being handled inside an apartment on Caxton Close, Halifax Regional Police said in a statement. Police arrived on scene and were in the process of contacting the people inside the apartment when three men came out.

Two 29-year-old men and a 28-year-old man were taken into custody, along with a woman, 26, who was inside.

Police said they found an assault rifle and ammunition lying on the grass below the apartment while searching the area.

The four people in custody were each charged on Wednesday with multiple weapons offences as well as one count each of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

One man was also charged with one count of breaching a probation order.