A police officer was assaulted at a checkpoint near Prospect on Sunday morning, RCMP said.

Officers from Tantallon were conducting a checkpoint in the 500 block of St. Margarets Bay Road at about 3:45 a.m. when one officer stopped a vehicle carrying three people.

The 22-year-old male driver from Terence Bay was arrested for being in possession of a stolen licence plate.

While the female officer was dealing with driver, Const. Tammy Lobb said, the two passengers got out of the car, and shouted threats and obscenities at the officer while ignoring commands to get back into the vehicle.

One of the passengers eventually complied, the other refused. The officer arrested the male for obstruction and he resisted by assaulting her.

She was able to use pepper spray to gain control of the situation.

Meanwhile, her male partner was on his way to police headquarters after arresting the driver of another car who was suspected of impaired driving, Const. Tammy Lobb said.

The assaulted officer only received minor injuries.

A 21-year-old man from Whites Lake is facing charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and obstruction.

He'll be in Halifax Provincial Court at a later date.