'Weapon seized' during arrest in St James's Street, Brighton

Police arrived at the scene outside Morrisons in St James's Street minutes later and pinned a man to the ground before arresting him.

A witness, who was in the area shortly after 10pm, told The Argus: "I was walking down St James's Street and I saw this guy outside Morrison's.

Witnesses reported that a weapon was seized as a man was arrested in St James's Street, Brighton, yesterday

"He had something behind his back, it looked like either a samurai sword or a metal pole.

"As I walked past I thought, 'was that a weapon?'. Then a police car drove by."

He said the officers appeared to be searching for someone, with the car slowing down to scour the area as it entered the street.

"Two other police cars joined them not long after," the witness said.

Witnesses reported that a weapon was seized as a man was arrested in St James's Street, Brighton, yesterday

"Officers pinned a man to the ground and put him in handcuffs and leg restraints.

"Then they put the weapon in some sort of tube."

He said the man appeared to spit in the face of one of the officers as he was being arrested, but police worked quickly to bring the situation under control.

The witness said: "Police were brilliant - they had it under control in minutes."

Sussex Police confirmed that a man was arrested and a metal pole was seized udring the incident late last night.

A force spokeswoman said: "Police responded to a report of a man with a pole behaving aggressively in central Brighton at 9.45pm on Tuesday (23 February). 

"Officers located the suspect in St James's Street where he reportedly spat at officers. A metal pole was seized.

"An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assaulting an emergency worker. 

"He remains in custody for questioning."