A Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff suffered minor injuries after an altercation at a drug bust on Thursday afternoon.

At approximately 12:10 p.m. Thursday, March 9, a Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff on patrol northwest of Raymond observed Regina Burks, 42, in her yard. The deputy knew Burks was wanted on a felony drug warrant. She was placed into custody, but requested to speak with her friend that she lived with to obtain bond money. The deputy and Burks went to the doorway and spoke with her friend, Joe Radcliff, 52. The deputy smelled a strong odor of cannabis and attempted to detain Radcliff for the investigation.

Radcliff resisted and the altercation escalated into a fight of nearly ten minutes. The deputy was eventually able to subdue Radcliff as soon as assisting law enforcement officers arrived on scene. The deputy was transported to HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield for treatment of minor injuries.

The South Central Illinois Drug Task Force continued the investigation, and seized over 40 pounds of suspected cannabis, over 200 pounds of suspected cannabis plants, approximately 45 grams of suspected methamphetamine, over 50 controlled substance prescription pills, and several fentanyl patches. More than $8000 in cash was also seized.

Radcliff and Burks are being held at the Montgomery County Jail pending official charges.

"I am thankful that the deputy was not seriously injured and I commend him on his actions to further an investigation," said Montgomery County Undersheriff Rick Robbins in a statement released Friday. He added that Radcliff was not known to law enforcement in the area, and by the deputy doing his job, an alleged drug dealer was taken off the streets.

Assisting the deputy at the scene were other Montgomery County Officers, State Police, Litchfield Police, and the Farmersville Ambulance.