SPARTANBURG, S.C. --
A Spartanburg man received a 20-year prison sentence Monday after he admitted to taking a gun from a sheriff's deputy during a fight and threatening to kill him.
Terrance McCall, 45, pleaded guilty to armed robbery, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree assault and battery and pointing and presenting a weapon. McCall will serve 80 percent of Circuit Judge Derham Cole's prison sentence before he is eligible for release.
McCall was a passenger in a car stopped by two sheriff's deputies and a Spartanburg city police officer Feb. 19, 2010, on Wofford Street for having a tint-covered license plate.
Officers asked the driver of the vehicle, Kenneth E. Woodruff, 21, of Spartanburg, to exit the car because his hands shook and he spoke with a pronounced stutter, police said. Woodruff fled the scene when the officers found something suspicious in his pocket. Two of the officers pursued Woodruff and took him into custody.
The remaining deputy attempted to handcuff McCall and place him in investigative detention. McCall hit the deputy in the face after a handcuff was placed on his left hand, police said. During the struggle that ensued, McCall ripped the deputy's body microphone from its holster and he pulled the deputy's Taser off the uniform. McCall retrieved a handgun from an ankle holster and stuck to the deputy's throat. McCall threatened to kill the deputy if he didn't turn over his weapon. The deputy refused but changed his mind when McCall pulled the hammer back. McCall stole the gun and attempted to run. Back-up officers arrested the defendant, police said.
At one point during the struggle, a bystander tried to help the deputy apprehend McCall. McCall pointed his gun at the bystander. The bystander retreated to a nearby police car and called for help on the radio.
"This case is a good illustration of how a routine traffic stop can turn into a life-threatening situation in a matter of seconds," Acting Solicitor Barry Barnette said. "I'm thankful the involved officers escaped serious injury, and I appreciate the willingness of our bystander to get involved."
During their search of Woodruff's car, deputies said they found a small amount of cocaine. Woodruff has possession of cocaine and resisting arrest charges pending.
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