POLICE swooped on a Walthamstow road this weekend to reports of a man assaulting passers-by while carrying a firearm.

Unarmed officers were called to Hoe Street on Saturday morning, at around 8am, after a number of incidents in the early hours of the morning.

A man was arrested and charged with two counts of assault by beating, possession of imitation firearms and possession of imitation firearms with intent to cause fear of violence.

Verdette George Saquis, 51, of Orford Road, Walthamstow was also charged with possession of a knife.

Saquis was arrested by unarmed officers on Hoe Street.

He was charged on yesterday and kept in custody to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court today (October 26).