NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. -- A captain in the Jacksonville Fire-Rescue Department is accused of hitting a 75-year-old man and pulling him out of his car.

Nassau County deputies arrested Michael Braddock, 44, Friday night after investigating what was described as a road-rage incident.

The victim, Ralph Stangle, told investigators that Braddock reached into his car and punched him in the face, and then pulled him out and yelled and cursed at him.

According to deputies, the incident began when Stangle was trying to pass Braddock in his truck in a no-passing zone because the captain was driving slowly.

"When he was able to get to a passing zone on the road, he pulled up next to Mr. Braddock and blew his horn at him, and Braddock gave Mr. Stangle the finger," said Nassau County Sheriff's Office Assistant Chief Hank Martinez.

Deputies said Stangle saw decals on Braddock's truck that identified him as a firefighter, and assuming he worked for Nassau County pulled into this fire station nearby to file a complaint against Braddock.

However, Braddock is a firefighter in Jacksonville, and when Stangled stopped in the Nassau County fire station things got physical.

A police report states, "Braddock approached the victim in his vehicle and struck him in the face."

Once outside the car the report states, "Braddock began yelling and cursing at him ... but upon Braddock being confronted by Fire Station 20 personnel, he got into his vehicle and left the scene."

"I do know that one of the firefighters knew him from working with him in the past and was able to identify Braddock to law enforcement," Martinez said.

While none of the firefighters witnessed the entire incident at station 20, they said what they did see was Braddock throwing a punch at Stangle.

When deputies contacted Braddock at his home in Fernandina Beach, he had a different account of the incident, claiming the victim got out of the car and tried to hit him and he was only defending himself by blocking the punch.

Braddock was charged with battery on a person older than 65. He posted bond and was released from jail on Saturday morning.

Braddock is on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.