BUFFALO TWP — Three out-of-state men were arrested after police say a handgun was fired twice from a pickup truck they were riding in early Sunday morning on Route 356.

At one point, a pursuing Buffalo Township police officer believed the gun was aimed at his patrol car, according to court documents.

No one was reported injured, and it was not immediately known if either round fired hit any building or other property, police said,

Charged in the case are Felix Reyes-Balderas, 31, of Carlsbad, N.M.; David Castro Estrada, 27, of Grand Junction, Colo.; and Juan A. Rodriguez Carbajal, 24, of Parachute, Colo.

All three suspects were arraigned on felony charges of aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a permit and misdemeanor charges of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

The defendants are in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail each.

Officer Daniel Ambrose was on patrol about 2:30 a.m. when he saw a northbound pickup riding the double-yellow line and swerving on Route 356 near the True Value.

Moments later, police said, Ambrose heard a gunshot that sounded like it came from the area of the truck. However, the officer did not see a muzzle blast.

Ambrose got behind the truck. A short time later, in the 300 block of Route 356, he heard a second shot. This time, police said, the officer saw the blast come from the pickup's passenger side.

“(Ambrose) was not aware of who or where the shots were aimed,” documents said.

Police noted there are homes and businesses on both side of the road in the area where the shots were fired.

While continuing to follow the truck, Ambrose noticed what appeared to be a black handgun “hanging out of the top of the rear passenger side window,” according to a police affidavit.

The officer said he believed the gun was “aimed at (his) patrol vehicle.”

Ambrose activated his emergency lights and stopped the truck in the 100 block of Route 356.

Township police officer Scott Hess assisted in the stop.

Police ordered all three occupants out of the truck and to lay face down on the ground. They were handcuffed.

The officers looked into the truck and saw a loaded magazine clip and a loose bullet on the back passenger seat.

In the bed of the truck behind the back passenger seat, they noticed a .45-caliber pistol, which was cocked and loaded.

Police also found a small bags of bullets on the rail of the truck bed.

Ambrose said none of the occupants admitted ownership of the gun or discharging the firearm. Police said the defendants, who all smelled of alcohol, refused to answer any questions.

Investigators said they believe the suspects were in Pennsylvania working unknown jobs. They have recently been staying in Butler.

Police this morning said they plan to get a search warrant for the truck, which was impounded.