Windsor police say they used a Taser to gain control of a man with a large butcher knife downtown.

Officers were in the area of Ouellette Avenue and Wyandotte Street around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, when their attention was drawn to a man yelling and a large group of pedestrians running away.

Officers approached the scene and saw a man swinging his arms wildly and yelling obscenities as he began to strike a phone booth with an object in his hand.

Police say as they got closer, they were able to see the man was carrying a large butcher knife in his hand.

Officers say they ordered the man to drop the knife, he did not comply, and a Taser was deployed in order to safely and efficiently gain control of the man.

The man was then handcuffed. Police say he continued to yell at the officers and threatened to kill one officer.

The man was transported to hospital for medical evaluation of minor injuries, and then brought to headquarters.

The involved knife was seized as evidence.

Ricky Ofori-Mensah, 32, from Windsor, is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon, uttering a threat to cause death, breach of probation (prior condition not to possess any weapon.)

Anyone with information is asked to contact Windsor Police Service at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com.