A man running through a Perth shopping centre allegedly threatening people with a machete and meat cleaver has been Tasered by police, witnesses say.
WAtoday understands officers descended on Rockingham Centre around midday on Tuesday after a man being pursued by police on a motorcycle ran inside the centre.
The man was allegedly Tasered and restrained soon after entering the shops, with shocked onlookers warning others on social media about the danger.
"Don't go to Rockingham shops, two guys w machetes, cops everywhere [sic]," wrote one person.
"When some guy runs threw [sic] Rockingham Shopping Centre with a machete and a meat clever and gets dropped with a tazer [sic]," wrote another.
"Standard Tuesday morning in Rockingham as a guy runs through the shopping centre with a knife threatening people #justrockothings," said another.
Witnesses claimed the man was speeding on a motorbike moments before he entered the shops.
"He came flying out onto Rae Road heaps of cops in chase but they were stuck as he cut through from a street over the footpath and onto Rae Road - he then took off but I saw all the cops heading to the shopping centre while I was at the lights," a witness said.
Police have charged a 20-year-old man from Warnbro with reckless driving, failing to comply with a direction to stop, no authority to drive, stealing a motor vehicle, possess a prohibited drug (cannabis and dexamphetamine) and being armed in a way to cause fear.
Police will allege they received several reports of a man riding a motorcycle with a weapon strapped to his back and followed him through several suburbs.
It will then be alleged he abandoned his motorcycle at Rockingham Centre and fled inside, throwing his helmet and a machete into passing stores before being apprehended by police who allegedly found a meat cleaver strapped to his waist.
The man will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Rockingham Centre declined to comment as the matter was subject to an ongoing police investigation.