Denver Police Chief Robert White pursued and solely apprehended a man who was threatening people with a weapon Tuesday afternoon.

White, 62, was retuning to headquarters when he saw a man brandishing a knife and chasing people near East 16th Avenue and Gilpin Street, said Lt. Matt Murray, White’s chief of staff.

White ran after the man. The uniformed chief then pulled his sidearm and ordered the man to drop the knife, Murray said.

The man complied and was taken into custody.

White called for and received backup but handled the lion’s share of the incident, Murray said.

White determined the man was either intoxicated or suffering from a mental disorder, so the suspect was taken to detox rather than jail, Murray said.

In an e-mail, White requested that the media not make a big deal of the matter.

“This small police action is what is expected in our profession,” White said. “And I prefer that praise and attention go to the men and women who keep Denver safe every day.”