SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — An off-duty firefighter managed to fend off an alleged carjacking attempt.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue firefighter was driving on Emerald Bay Road north of the Y intersection on Tuesday, Jan. 8, around 5 p.m., when a man stepped in front his vehicle, according to police.

He slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting the man, who then tried to enter the vehicle through the passenger-side door. The driver’s son was sitting in the passenger seat.

The man began hitting the vehicle with his fists before walking over to the driver’s side.

He and the firefighter got into a fight, according to police. Eventually the suspect made it into the driver’s seat and attempted to drive away with the victim’s son still in the vehicle.

The firefighter, who was not identified by police, removed the suspect from the vehicle. He proceeded to flee the scene on foot, but not before the victim took a photograph to share with law enforcement.

Lewis was known to law enforcement with cases going back 11 years including battery with serious injury and drug use, according to police.

Booking photos of Lewis matched the one taken by the firefighter, according to police, who located Lewis at his home.

Lewis, 27, denied any involvement in the alleged crime.

He was arrested without incident and booked into the El Dorado County jail on charges of attempted carjacking, attempted kidnapping and battery. He is currently being held on $405,000 bail.