The discovery of a man that police believe to be fugitive ex-cop Christopher Jordan Dorner began when two maids stumbled upon him Tuesday as they arrived to clean a vacant cabin near ski resorts in the Big Bear area.

The suspect was found close to where law enforcement officials held news conferences over the weekend concerning their search for Dorner, 33, and near where Dorner’s car was set aflame last week.

Just after the maids saw the suspect, he tied the two up, took a car from the residence and left, according to a law enforcement official. One of the maids was eventually able to break free at the residence in the 1200 block of Club View Drive, close to Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Resort, and called 911 at 12:20 p.m.

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Then, at 12:45 p.m., according to state Fish and Wildlife officials, the suspect was allegedly driving a purple Nissan on California 38 when he passed a marked vehicle driven by the agency’s law enforcement officers.

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

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

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With officers still in pursuit, the suspect then stopped a truck driven by resident Rick Heltebrake, ordering him out. Heltebrake, a ranger at a nearby Boy Scout camp, didn’t want to leave his dog behind, a Dalmatian named Suni.

The suspect allowed them both to get out and then took off in vehicle, according to an account from a friend of Heltebrake.