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NATCHEZ — Officers used a taser to arrest a man who pulled out a handgun before he could fire outside of Walgreens on Seargent Prentiss Drive Friday evening.

At approximately 8:35 p.m., a deputy with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black SUV for a traffic violation on Seargent Prentiss Drive near Linda Lee Drive.

The vehicle failed to make a complete stop and the front passenger side door of the vehicle began to open several times while the vehicle was in motion.

A Black male, later identified as Derrick Dewayne Bates, exited the front passenger side door and began to flee on foot.

Bates then ran into traffic in the connecting intersection of Devereaux Drive. He refused to follow loud verbal commands to stop and fled into the parking lot of Walgreens.

Bates fell to the ground and then attempted to stand up and reached into a bag and retrieved a handgun. He resisted deputies and was tased.

Officers from Natchez Police Department arrived on scene and assisted in taking the suspect into custody.

It was learned that Bates has active warrants for his arrest in Tensas Parish, Louisiana. Inside his bag was a clear bag of marijuana, a black weigh scale, and a tan SCCY CPX-1 9mm.

Bates was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on law enforcement, possession of marijuana with intent, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff Travis Patten said he very grateful for the Natchez Police Department for assisting in the arrest and that his deputy or any other innocent by-standers were not hurt in the incident.