SEAFORD, Del.- Delaware State Police are asking the public's help in locating a Millsboro man who fled from officers and abandoned his 9-year-old son in the process.

On Monday night, troopers said they attempted to stop 28-year-old Steven D. Verley for a traffic violation on Route 13 in Seaford. When troopers approached the vehicle, they said they noticed the smell of marijuana and that a child was seated in the front passenger seat. Police said when Verley was asked to step out of the car, he took off and led troopers on a chase.

In order to keep the child safe, troopers ended the chase.

Verley was later found by the Seaford police officers in a vacant parking lot. Once they approached, Verley took off into the woods, leaving his son behind. Police took custody of the child and later turned him over to a relative.

After conducting a vehicle search of Verley's abandoned car, police said they found marijuana, crack cocaine, oxycodine pills and drug paraphernalia.

Troopers are unable to locate Verley, who currently has active warrants out of Troop 5 for drug and traffic-related offenses, Reckless Driving and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.