Man found with meth after police chase

A Millsboro man faces drug charges after police say he led officers on a car chase Jan. 7 and then tried to run away.

The car chase began at 2:18 a.m. when police on patrol saw a 2016 Kia Forte speeding southbound on Gravel Hill Road south of Zoar Road, said Sr. Cpl. Leonard DeMalto of the Delaware State Police.

The driver, Martin Lagasse, 50, continued driving after a trooper tried to stop him, DeMalto said, and Lagasse continued eastbound on Mount Joy Road. As the car approached Route 24, one of its tires was deflated by stop sticks that police had placed in the roadway. Lagasse, however, kept driving eastbound on Oak Orchard Road and eventually stopped on Delaware Avenue in Millsboro, DeMalto said.

Lagasse tried to run away on foot, but police caught him after a brief foot chase, DeMalto said.

Police said Lagasse was driving while impaired and was found to be in possession of about 28 grams of methamphetamine, about 0.014 grams of heroin, a small amount of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.He was taken to Troop 4 and charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a tier 3 quantity, felony disregarding a police officer signal, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, and other drug and traffic charges.

Lagasse was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $66,610 cash bond.