New Castle — A New Castle man who threw bags of drugs out of his car during a pursuit with police Wednesday has been sent to the Howard Young Correctional Facility after he was arraigned on 18 different charges.

When police officers in the area tried to use signals and verbal commands to stop Kalen Gilbert, 26, from driving his SUV erratically out of the Rosegate Community, he swerved in their direction and nearly hit them, police said.

Gilbert fled out of the community with Ashlee Flowers, 23, in the passenger seat at a high rate of speed, said Cpl. John Weglarz, a spokesman for the New Castle County Police Department.

Moments later, officers located Gilbert’s SUV leaving the community of Dunleith and attempted to pull him over.

Gilbert continued driving onto I-295 and while officers were pursing the vehicle, they said that several items were thrown from the passenger side window.

The SUV stopped after passing several cars in the shoulder and police arrested Gilbert and Flowers.

A search along the road turned up 26 bags of heroin, a 3.6-gram bag of crack cocaine and a bag with 1.29 grams of marijuana, Weglarz said.

Flowers was charged with possession of drugs and intent to deliver. She was released on a $24,500 bond.

Gilbert failed to post a cash bail on his criminal and traffic charges and was committed to the HWCF.

Drug toting duo arrested after highway chase - Middletown, DE - Middletown Transcript