A Sistersville man was charged with attempting to disarm a police officer while his female companion faces drug charges after an incident in the New Martinsville Walmart parking lot Friday.

When New Martinsville Police Department Patrolman Don Larsen was investigating the duo for shoplifting, he found multiple bags of individually wrapped portions of marijuana in a make up purse carried by Cynthia R. Smith, 23, of 618 N. Fourth Ave., Paden City.

During the search Benjamin D. Francis, 32, of 307 Clay St., Sistersville, grabbed Larsen’s service pistol. However, it was recovered and they were both placed under arrest.

Francis is charged with attempting to disarm a police officer and Smith faces one count of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Both crimes are felonies. Francis and Smith are being held in the Northern Regional Jail on $50,000 and $20,000 bonds, respectively.

They are scheduled to appear before Wetzel County Magistrate Judith Goontz on Thursday at 10 a.m.