Victoria's top cop springs into action to take down armed man in Melbourne city street: 'Angry and confused'

By WAYNE FLOWER, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 06:00, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 06:01, 16 July 2026 Victoria's top cop has leapt into action and jumped from his passing car to take down an alleged armed offender on the run in the heart of Melbourne's CBD.  Chief Commissioner Mike Bush was driving along Queen Street on Tuesday with his security officer when they spotted colleagues chasing a man down the road at 6am. Police had earlier been called to the scene near Flinders Lane to investigate reports of a man allegedly armed with a knife, where they then confronted the suspect. 'The man was not compliant, and a [Taser stun gun] was deployed with no effect,' a police spokesman revealed. 'The man ran from police down Collins Street. 'At this time CCP Mike Bush and his security officer were travelling to work in a vehicle and spotted the man running from police. 'CCP Mike Bush got out of the car and restrained the man before being assisted by his security officer and other police.' Police later discovered the man had been armed with a chisel, which was discarded nearby and recovered.  Chief Commissioner Mike Bush was driving along Queen Street on Tuesday with his security officer when they spotted colleagues chasing a man down the road at 6am The 32-year-old Brunswick man was taken to hospital for assessment and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. No one was injured during the arrest. Commissioner Bush, whose bravery was revealed on 3AW's Rumour File, is refusing to discuss the incident.  Carlo Moussi, the owner of Tavistock House Cafe in Flinders Lane, told The Age that he heard the man shouting as he opened his cafe. 'I basically opened the doors and I heard one guy just yelling and screaming up the street,' Mr Moussi said. 'He just seemed angry and confused, he didn’t [seem] like he was inebriated. I don’t know what substance or anything what he was doing, but he looked like he didn’t know what he was doing. 'There were police sirens around the corner, that’s all I knew.' Commissioner Bush enjoyed a decorated career in New Zealand before coming to Melbourne to take on the force's top job.  Queen Street in Melbourne was the scene of the top cop's brave intervention on Tuesday While in New Zealand, he led investigations into international drug rings, rescued a kidnapped five-year-old, and was credited with solving multiple murder cases.  He recently completed one year in the chief commissioner role, having handled pay disputes and the successful hunt for Dezi Freeman after he shot dead two detectives.