A man approached 25-year-old Jose Ruiz of North Charleston late Friday night, pulled out a gun and demanded his wallet, Dorchester County sheriff's Maj. John Garrison said.

Ruiz handed over the wallet, but before the robber was able to get away, Ruiz grabbed the gun and fought his assailant, pulling him to the ground. With the help of some friends, he held him until deputies arrived, Garrison said.

Ruiz's wallet was recovered, as well as the pistol, which had been reported stolen from North Charleston. The wallet contained $29.

Quinton R. Lambert, 19, of Hunters Ridge Lane is charged with armed robbery, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a stolen weapon. He was being held in Dorchester County Jail on $80,000 bail, Garrison said.

As a general rule, the Sheriff's Office does not recommend trying to grab a gun from an armed robber, Garrison said. "This had the potential to be a whole lot worse than it was," he said. "In this case it worked out, but we'd rather you be a good witness than a bad victim."

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