Newberry County, SC (WLTX) - Newberry County deputies say they've arrested a man they say got into a physical fight with one of their officers after a traffic stop.

Trevor Denois Sligh, 24, has been taken into custody and charged with assault and battery on a police officer while resisting arrest, possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, deputies say the officer, Matthew Womack, pulled over Sligh for not having his lights on while Sligh was driving down Cottage Avenue near Helena. Womack says he smelled marijuana coming from the car, so he called for backup and asked Sligh to get out of his car.

Deputies say Slight tried to reach into his pocket, and the officer told him to stop. Investigator say Sligh became combative with the deputy, and when Womack tried to physically stop Sligh from reaching his pocket, the two began struggling.

Womack says during the struggle, he determined Sligh had a gun in his pocket. The two struggled for a few moments, and the officer tried to use pepper spray and a taser on the Sligh, but the weapons had no effect.

Eventually, deputies say Sligh hit Womack in the face and nose with his elbow, then ran from the scene.

Woman was treated and released from the hospital.

Officers eventually found Sligh around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.  

"This was truly a fight for life or death," said Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster in a statement. "We are both fortunate and blessed that the deputy survived this incident because I am convinced that had the suspect been able to retrieve the weapon from his pocket, he would have shot the deputy."