Defendant sped up when police flashed their emergency lights and attempted to stop him.
Donte Dowdell (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)FRANKLIN -- A township man who authorities said threw a loaded gun out of the window during a police chase has been indicted.
Donte Dowdell, 20, of Voorhees Avenue in the Somerset section of the township, was indicted on second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree eluding. He's being held in Somerset County Jail on $100,000 cash-only bail.
On Jan. 4, members of the county's Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force received a tip that a man, later allegedly identified as Dowdell, would be driving a red Chrysler Sebring in the area of Mark Street and would be in possession of a .32 caliber handgun, authorities said.
At approximately 4:25 p.m., detectives spotted the vehicle on Mark Street, authorities said. Detectives tried to pull the vehicle over, but Dowdell allegedly sped up and threw a white plastic bag out of the driver's side window during the chase, authorities said.
After Dowdell was apprehended, police reported retrieving the plastic bag and it contained a loaded .32 caliber gun and nine additional .32 caliber rounds.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.