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Deputy, suspect hospitalized after fight
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UPDATE: The passenger who injested the drugs has died. Identified as Terry Dean Gore, 43, he had a lengthy criminal history, and was last arrested in July of this year. An autopsy is being performed by the GBI Medical Examiner Thursday morning to determine exact cause of death.

The deputy who was injured was treated and released.

A fight between a Newton County Sheriff's deputy and a white male has resulted in both people being hospitalized, according to Newton County Sheriff's Office Lt. Keith Crum.

Officials said the suspect may be dead, but, as of 2:55 p.m., County Coroner Tommy Davis could not confirm that fact.

The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. at the Marathon station at the intersection of the Covington Bypass Road and Ga. Highway 36, when the deputy made a traffic stop on a car being driven by a white female and two white male passengers. While the deputy was making the stop, he saw what he believed to be one of the passengers ingesting drugs.

When the deputy ordered the man to spit out the drugs, the man refused and engaged in an intense fight with the deputy. Witnesses joined in to attempt to help the officer who was injured to the point of being taken to the hospital.

The suspect was also taken to the hospital, but it was believed to be because of the alleged drugs he took and not because of injuries from the fight.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the situation as a matter of protocol, and the sheriff's office will also conduct its own internal investigation.