A man waving a machete was arrested Thursday afternoon in downtown Nanaimo.
Nanaimo RCMP Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien said the man, who is well-known to police, was walking along Front Street about 1 p.m. waving the machete and kicking mailboxes.
Police responded quickly and surrounded the man with guns drawn, but he was co-operative and dropped to the ground, O’Brien said.
“He was taken into custody without incident.”
The man is facing charges of mischief and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and also had an outstanding warrant.