Three persons were arrested Sunday evening after they led law enforcement officers on a 27-mile pursuit that started with the reports of shots fired in Ceres and ended in Salida.

The incident started with a 9:30 p.m. call about a fight escalating to shots being fired in the 3400 block of Central Avenue. Ceres Police arrived and saw a Dodge Ram identified to be involved in the incident leaving the area. The vehicle was driven by Mariela Zavala Mendoza, 27, of Ceres, with passengers, David Contreras Jr., 31, and Christian Henry, 27, both of Modesto.

A Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputy assisted and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but it sped off. Mendoza led deputies on a 27-mile pursuit, lasting about 20 minutes. During the pursuit, Contreras pointed a rifle at deputies and possibly took a shot but the gun malfunctioned.

The pursuit ended when the vehicle drove into a ditch at N. Gates Road and Bacon Road in Salida.

The three occupants attempted to run but were quickly apprehended.

Inside the vehicle, deputies found approximately $10,000 in cash, a rifle and marijuana.

No deputies, Ceres police officers, or bystanders were injured in the incident. 

Contreras Jr. was booked for assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of an assault weapon, brandishing a firearm at a police officer, threatening a police officer, illegal discharge of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Mendoza was booked for felony pursuit, driving while under the influence, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Henry was arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime.