A 23-year-old Albanian living in Shelby Township faces up to life in prison after police allege he attempted to kidnap two girls last week but was thwarted by bystanders who intervened.

The first incident involved a 15-year-old girl who was walking along Clinton River Road in Clinton Township at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13 when police allege Endi Bala approached in a car.

“He asked if he could walk me home twice, and I refused both times, and I started walking off,” the victim, identified as Alexis, told WXYZ. “He got out of the car, grabbed my wrist, he said, ‘I’m going to mess you up.’”

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A witness intervened to help Alexis escape, and Bala fled, according to a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutors Office. Other residents called 911.

About an hour later, around 2:30 p.m., Bala allegedly snatched a 7-year-old girl off her bike at Clinton North River Park in Sterling Heights and put the girl in his car. Alecia Swejkoski told WXYZ she was with her 8-year-old son and 7-year-old niece when Bala grabbed the niece.

“I was telling to stop, wait a minute at first. Then I quickly shift into go. ‘You need to run, run,’ and I just got louder and louder, and that’s right when he came up from behind her and scooped her up,” Swejkoski said.

Bala attempted to drive off but Swejkoski fought back.

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“I was punched on top of my head. He had one hand on her and one hand trying to get the wheel,” she said. “I had one hand on the wheel, trying to get his hand off of her, and we went back and forth.”

Door camera video from across the street captured Bala attempting to drive off when another vehicle pulled up. Scott Vanluven told WXYZ he “literally pulled him out of the car and just held him against his car until police got there.”

VanLuven, a volunteer with the Sterling Heights Citizen Patrol, told WPMI he was driving home from work when he saw a woman hanging out of the driver’s side of a moving vehicle, so he parked his truck to block the vehicle from leaving.

“Scott exited his truck and then removed the suspect from the vehicle and did not let him leave until police arrived on scene,” police told the news site.

“If it were not for the quick actions of the little girl’s aunt, as well as Scott Vanluven, who knows what would have happened to that poor child. These individuals are absolute HEROES and we are so grateful that they were quick to act!”

“As a community, we owe an immense debt of gratitude to the courageous Good Samaritans who stepped in without hesitation, risking their own safety to save these young girls,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a statement. “Their quick actions not only thwarted a crime but also ensured that these brave girls were able to return home safely. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the individual responsible for this terrifying act faces justice.”

The 7-year-old’s mother told WXYZ she’s immensely grateful.

“I was just thinking in my head that if anything happened to my daughter, I would not be able to be here anymore,” she said.

Vox News identified Bala as Albanian, while a law enforcement source told The Midwesterner Bala is “apparently” in the country legally.

Bala was arraigned in Clinton Township District Court on a charge of felony kidnapping – child endangerment, which comes with a potential life sentence, as well as misdemeanors for reckless driving and assault and battery. Magistrate Ryan Zemke set Bala’s bond at $2 million, and imposed several conditions on release, including surrendering his passport. Zemke also order Bala to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Bala was also arraigned in Sterling Heights District Court, where Magistrate Michael Piatek denied bond and remanded Bala to the Macomb County Jail.

Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Laws initially asked for a $5 million bail, citing concerns Bala could flee and noting he traveled to Albania three times in the past six years, Vox reports.

“These events took place in the middle of the day and in our case, right next to a busy road out in the open,” police told WPMI. “Please watch out for one another and keep our communities strong!”