A man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to burn down a Glenroy service station this morning.

His dramatic arrest at a nearby laundromat was captured by security cameras.

The trouble began at the service station early this morning.

View photos Police used capsicum spray after the man allegedly appeared to lunge for a knife. Photo: 7 News More

It is alleged the 30-year-old Campbellfield, armed with a knife, made threats to a staff member that he was going to burn the Caltex petrol station down.

Police were called and found the man in a laundromat across the road.

At one stage the man lunged towards them with a knife and police then moved on him.





He was doused with capsicum spray, some of which ended up in the face of one of the police members.

Batons were drawn and the man was struck to the leg.

It took three police members to restrain him.

View photos The man was struck with batons as police worked to subdue him. Photo: 7 News More

Just minutes before his arrest the man had been speaking to a laundromat customer while he hid the knife.

“When I saw the police that they recognised a knife I said, ‘wow’, you know, I didn’t know,” the customer identified only as Yaseen said.

View photos Paramedics were called to the laundromat to treat the arrested man for the effects of the capsicum spray. Photo: 7 News More

Three police members kept the man on the ground outside the laundromat for several minutes.

Paramedics were called and he was treated at the scene for the effects of the spray.

The police member who had the spray on his face was also in pain but did not need treatment from paramedics.