Knife-wielding Brighton man tasered by police

A man wielding a knife and making threats to kill was tasered and then arrested by police.

Emergency services were called to Somerset Point in Kemp Town, Brighton, at about 11pm last night.

Neighbours told Latest TV they saw a man holding the weapon from their windows.

After failing to get him to drop a carving knife, police confirmed they used a taser before arresting the man.

One resident of a nearby building, who asked not to be named, said: “It was pretty horrifying to witness it all happening. But it’s terrifying really to think it’s happening just outside your home.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “A 26-year-old man Leon Reed, of North Road, Brighton, is to appear before the city’s magistrates on October 16 charged with possession of an offensive weapon, making threats to kill and two counts of criminal damage.

“It follows an incident in Somerset Street, Brighton, at 11.12pm on Sunday (5 October) in which a man failed to heed police warnings to drop a carving knife and was Tasered prior to officers arresting him.

“No officers or other members of the public were hurt.”