A man was arrested in Calne after brandishing what police believed was a Samurai sword – however, it turned out to be a wooden training sword.
At 3pm yesterday afternoon, 27 February, police officers were rapidly dispatched to reports of the male carrying the huge sword in William Street, near the One Stop shop.
On arrival, a he was advised to drop the weapon by the officers and was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and for using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence.
The local man, a 33-year-old from Calne, was taken to Melksham custody and has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.
The weapon was later examined and was found to be a wooden Samurai training sword.
PCSO Mark Cook, of the Calne Community Policing Team, said: “I would like to thank the witnesses who reported this incident to the police, without which, the outcome may have been very different.
“The detailed description given by witnesses and the man’s direction of travel taken meant officers were able to quickly locate and arrest him and ensure nobody came to any harm.
“Fortunately, incidents like this are very rare in Calne and we take any reports of this nature very seriously.”
