What began as an attempt to make a vehicle stop in Delhi turned into a pursuit that ended with the arrest of five juveniles and the recovery of a loaded handgun.

Around 5 p.m. Saturday deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Department STAR team attempted to conduct a vehicle stop in the area of August Avenue and Shanks Road in Delhi.

The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and a short pursuit ensued, the sheriff’s department reported.

The vehicle stopped in an orchard behind the Delhi High School. Five male subjects took off running from the vehicle and after a short foot pursuit and help from patrol deputies, all five subjects were taken into custody.

The STAR Team deputies were able to identify all five juveniles as suspected gang members on active probation. It was believed that one of the juveniles was armed with a handgun when he took off running from the vehicle. While checking the area around the football field where the juveniles jumped the fence, deputies located a loaded .40 caliber handgun hidden in a dirt hole. Deputies collected the handgun as evidence.

The juveniles were booked into the Merced County Juvenile Hall on weapons charges, gang enhancements and vehicle code violations.