A woman was arrested Thursday night after Fresno police responding to reports of gunfire said she refused to leave her vehicle and attempted to drive away before officers deployed pepper balls.

Officers responded about 9:16 p.m. to Vagedes and Fairmont avenues, where a caller reported hearing gunshots and seeing a vehicle leave the area, according to the Fresno Police Department.

While officers interviewed the caller, a vehicle sped through the neighborhood. The caller identified it as the vehicle involved in the shooting, police said.

Officers located a vehicle matching the description traveling north on Arthur Avenue from Sierra Madre Avenue and conducted a felony traffic stop.

The driver, identified as Samantha Delgado, refused to exit, police said. Officers contacted her by phone, and negotiators responded, but she continued refusing commands to leave the vehicle.

Delgado then put the vehicle in drive and attempted to leave, but patrol vehicles surrounded her at North Arthur and West Shaw avenues, police said.

Officers deployed pepper balls into the vehicle before Delgado exited and was taken into custody.

A search uncovered a loaded Sig Sauer handgun beneath the driver’s seat with its serial number scratched off, police said.

Delgado was arrested on suspicion of willfully discharging a firearm, weapons-related offenses, and resisting and delaying officers. She was taken to Community Regional Medical Center for medical clearance before being booked into Fresno County Jail.

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