Police wrestle knife from man in dramatic arrest at Lismore
Police have wrestled a knife from a man in a dramatic arrest in northern NSW which was captured on a mobile phone camera.
The 45-year-old man was approached by police on Magellan Street in Lismore at about 10.40am on Saturday, police said. When officers attempted to speak to him, he allegedly armed himself with a large knife and threatened them.
Officers wrestle with the man at Lismore on Saturday.Credit:Nine News
In a statement, a NSW Police spokesperson said a perimeter was established and police deployed a Taser, before the man was arrested and a knife was seized.
"He has been taken to Lismore Police Station, where he is expected to be charged," the spokesperson said.
In vision of the incident, filmed from across the street, police could be heard shouting "drop it, drop it, drop the knife" and "give us your arm" after the Taser was deployed and the man was pinned to the ground in a shopfront.
One of the officers could then be seen walking away holding what appeared to be a hunting knife.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Acting Inspector Anthony Smith from Richmond Police District said the man was "going to stab us and hurt us".
"Obviously whether that's intended to kill, I don't know," Acting Inspector Smith said.
"[It's] very fortunate that no police were injured, no members of the public were injured."
Officers are investigating if the man is linked to several incidents around the state, including a cathedral fire in Lismore.
In the hours before the incident, several photographs of the man brandishing a knife were posted to his Facebook page.
In one post, the man said in capital letters: "I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, to live is Christ and to die in a hail of police bullets is great gain".
In another lengthy post, it was claimed: "I set fire to Lismore cathedral, Hillsong church Sydney and pastor Brian Houston's house, but why ... I have not broken the law, I have defended it."
Charges are expected to be laid on Saturday night.
Georgina Mitchell is a court reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.