Beebe, AR – An Arkansas police officer’s keen eye may have saved his children’s lives and his own when he spotted a man who was planning to attack him outside his home.

Beebe Police Officer Andrew Napolitano was on his way to work, and had just left his home with his two minor children in tow on July 18 when the incident occurred.

Officer Napolitano was putting his small children in his vehicle when he noticed 22-year-old Cody Ramsey sitting parked in a pickup truck outside his home, according to KAIT-TV.

Ramsey had parked his truck close to Officer Napolitano’s police cruiser, with the driver’s door of the pickup truck close to the driver’s door of the police vehicle, according to a statement posted on the Beebe Police Department’s official Facebook page.

Officer Napolitano approached Ramsey and asked if he was waiting for someone.

Ramsey replied that he wasn’t waiting on anybody, so Officer Napolitano informed the man that he was on private property, and asked him to leave.

That’s when Ramsey leaned forward in his car seat and pulled out a semi-automatic handgun that he pointed at Officer Napolitano’s face, according to the police department’s statement.

In response, Officer Napolitano drew his duty weapon and ordered Ramsey to put down the gun and get out of his truck.

Police said Ramsey dropped his weapon on command, but when he exited the vehicle, he attacked Officer Napolitano and hit him several times in the face, according to the police statement on the incident.

A bystander who saw the fight happening rushed over to help Officer Napolitano. The Good Samaritan suffered minor injuries in the altercation but was able to help the officer gain control of the suspect.

Ramsey continued to resist arrest until Officer Napolitano’s backup arrived and he was taken into custody.

After he had been arrested, Ramsey told police he had planned the attack on the officer.

The department’s statement said Ramsey had been arrested and taken to the White County Jail where he was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, one count of battery in the second degree on a law enforcement officer, and one count of carrying a weapon.