The discovery of a man who police believe to be Christopher Dorner began when two maids ran into him Tuesday morning as they arrived to clean a vacant cabin in the Big Bear area near where the fugitive ex-cop’s car was set ablaze last week.

The two maids entered a cabin in the 1200 block of Club View Drive, close to Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Resort, and surprised a man who they said resembled the fugitive, a law enforcement official said. The man tied up the maids, and then took off in a purple Nissan parked near the cabin, authorities said.

One of the maids was eventually able to break free and called 911 at 12:20 p.m., officials said

PHOTOS: Manhunt for ex-LAPD officer

Nearly half an hour later, officials said, the suspect was driving on California 38 when he passed a marked vehicle driven by officers of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

They recognized the suspect as he passed and swung their vehicle around in pursuit, officials said.

The suspect attempted to evade them by turning off onto Glass Road, and at some point crashed and abandoned the small car.

DOCUMENT: Read the manifesto

A short time later, authorities said, the suspect carjacked a light-colored pickup truck. Allan Laframboise said the truck belonged to his friend Rick Heltebrake, who works at a nearby Boy Scout camp.

Heltebrake was driving on Glass Road with his Dalmatian, Suni, when a hulking African American man stepped into the road, Laframboise said. Heltebrake stopped. The man told him to get out of the truck.

"Can I take my dog?" Heltebrake asked, according to his friend.

TIMELINE: Manhunt for ex-LAPD officer

"You can leave and you can take your dog," the man reportedly said. He then sped off in the Dodge extended-cab pickup — and quickly encountered two Department of Fish and Wildlife trucks.