From left, David Preston, Keith J. Maye, and William J. Preston were arrested in the culmination of a burglary investigation in Magnolia, authorities said. (Delaware State Police photo)

MAGNOLIA — Three men were arrested at the end of a burglary investigation that led to locating drugs and several guns, police said on Wednesday.

Delaware State Police said the case concluded April 14 at about 7 p.m. That’s when Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit with the assistance of the Kent County Drug Task Force and Kent County Governor’s Task Force went to a residence in the 100 block of Terry Drive.

They went there to conduct a search warrant at the residence for items alleged to have been stolen in a December 2015 burglary.

William J. Preston, 28, of Magnolia, and Keith J. Maye, 29, of Frederica, were standing outside of the house in the driveway, authorities said. Upon seeing detectives arrive at the house, Mr. Preston ran to the rear of the residence and was observed kneeling down as if to discard something behind the trailer, according to police.

Mr. Maye also attempted to flee, but both were quickly taken into custody without further incident, police said.

Upon checking the area where Mr. Preston was kneeling, detectives recovered 247 bags of alleged heroin weighing 3.705 grams, according to police.

Mr. Maye was allegedly found to be in possession of 60 bags of heroin weighing .9 grams.

Pictured is evidence seized in a Magnolia burglary investigation, according to authorities.

The search warrant of the house revealed a television reported stolen in a burglary to a residence at nearby Henry Drive in which Mr. Preston was linked, police said.

Prior to the detectives arriving at the home, police said, undercover troopers made a controlled purchase of heroin from William’s brother David Preston, 29, of Magnolia, while he was standing across the street near some parked vehicles.

David Preston fled the area upon seeing the detectives arriving at the house, according to authorities, and a computer check of the two vehicles he was standing near while conducting the drug transaction revealed they were registered to him, police said.

Investigators had the two cars towed back to Troop 3 in Camden where search warrants were obtained.

The Ford Crown Victoria contained seven bags of heroin weighing .105 grams, police said, .33 grams of marijuana, five rounds of 9mm ammunition and one assault rifle magazine (clip) were all located within the car.

Located in the Chevrolet Impala was a Bushmaster .223 caliber assault rifle, a fully loaded Stag Arms .223 caliber assault rifle and a Mossberg 12 gauge sawed-off shotgun confirmed stolen from a residence in Bridgeville back in 2002, police said.

William Preston and Mr. Maye were transported to Troop 3.

Mr. Preston was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of a controlled substance (heroin), tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree burglary, second-degree conspiracy, theft under $1,500 and criminal mischief.

He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 in Rehoboth Beach and released after posting $14,600 secured bond.

Mr. Maye was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned at Court 2 and released after posting $2,750 secured bond.

On Monday, police said, detectives received information that David Preston was at a residence on Woodville Drive, Magnolia. Troopers and Probation and Parole Officer assigned to the GTF responded to the house and upon their arrival, David Preston was seen running into the home, police said.

A Probation and Parole officer gave chase and was able to capture Preston in a back room without further incident, authorities said.

A search of the room revealed 9.13 grams of raw heroin, 1.094 grams of packaged heroin, .18 grams of powder cocaine, .75 grams of crack cocaine and 33.84 grams of marijuana, according to police.

David Preston was transported to Troop 3 in Camden where he was charged with six counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number, receiving a stolen firearm, three counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin, two counts of possession of cocaine, resisting arrest and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna on $172,000 cash bond.