A brave lone police officer has arrested a man carrying a ‘massive 12-inch kitchen knife’ in Swindon town centre this morning.
Police officers were attempting to arrest an 18-year-old man nearby, when he then picked up his bicycle and made off in the direction of Queens Street, behind Wilko.
One police car chased him, and made contact with the bicycle which resulted in the suspect falling to the ground. He was uninjured and attempted to run away from the officer on foot.
The brave, unarmed police officer then took the man to the ground and detained him next to Caffè Nero. Witnesses claim to have seen a large carving-type knife on the ground next the the man.
An eyewitness told Wiltshire 999s: “A police car just came speed around the corner, and hit the guy off his bike and into the railings. Then he left the bike and ran off towards town.
“The police officer chased him and took him to the floor down there [near Caffè Nero], I saw a huge kitchen knife laying down on the path right next to him. It was massive – about 12 inches long.”
Another eyewitness, who was stood nearby at the time, said: “He was on a mountain bike which a police car forced into a road barrier and the guy then made off on foot towards Bridge Street.
“However, he was straight away tackled to the floor by police officers. As the guy run away from his bike he dropped a large kitchen carving knife.”
A Wiltshire Police spokesperson confirmed that one man was arrested at the scene, on suspicion of burglary and possession of an offensive weapon.
“This morning, officers were making an arrest of a male suspect when he rode off on his bicycle but then fell off after colliding with a police car. He was uninjured.
“An 18-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of an offensive weapon and is currently in custody.”