By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

ST. ROSE – Authorities arrested a New Orleans man who tried to fight off an officer after he made a possible drug sale with an unidentified man, the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office reported.

Officers allegedly found a large quantity of crack cocaine and a small amount of marijuana on Deshawn Davis, 26, of 3028 Fern St. in New Orleans, who tried to grab the officer’s pistol during a struggle before back-up arrived in time to arrest him, according to the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

Officers booked Davis with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of marijuana, resisting arrest by violence, battery on a police officer and disarming a police officer.

The arresting officer reportedly spotted Davis and another man making a hand to hand exchange at 2 a.m. in an area of First Street known for heavy drug activity before he called Davis over to his vehicle.

Davis sprinted off through a wooded area with the officer on his tail until he tried to jump over a chain link fence a few blocks from where the chase ensued, but the officer tackled Davis to the ground to arrest him.

Davis struggled to escape the officer’s grasp and started to pull his revolver from its holster before the officer pinned him down and waited for back-up police, who were alerted of the chase when it first began.

Police arrived to capture Davis and discovered a black velvet bag packed with 35 grams of crack cocaine and another bag containing 1.5 grams of marijuana in his pockets.