Police detained a man after a knife was pulled on a member of the public last night, within shouting distance of Dunedin's central police station.
Police were called to the Countdown car park in Great King St, next door to the police station about 6.15pm.
A man pulled a knife on a member of the public near the store, a police spokeswoman said.
He fled the area but police apprehended the suspected offender a short time later.
It did not appear the two people involved were known to each other or that any altercation led to the incident.
Police said they were yet to lay charges and were still interviewing the suspect and witnesses last night.
Inquiries into the incident were ongoing and it was unclear at that stage whether any charges would be laid, the spokeswoman said last night.
Immediately after the incident a heavy police presence was visible in the central city.
