Global News journalist tackles saw-wielding man outside Ghomeshi courthouse

TORONTO — Charges including assault and making death threats have been laid after a bizarre incident outside the Jian Ghomeshi trial courthouse that police say saw a man threateningly wave a saw before being tackled to the ground by a Global News journalist.

The man was outside the Old City Hall courthouse around 7 a.m. Friday — hours before the disgraced radio star’s trial convened — when he began swearing and indicated he had a weapon, police said.

It’s alleged the man pulled a bladeless saw from a bag, started wielding it and began talking about a gun when Global News online reporter Adam Miller, who was lining up to cover the trial, wrestled him to the ground.

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Miller said it all started when a distraught man was pulling on the doors of the closed courthouse and yelling about judges when he produced the saw. Around 15 reporters were queued up nearby, Miller said.

WATCH: Global News journalist tackles saw-wielding man outside Ghomeshi courthouse. Farah Nasser has more.

0:50 Global News journalist tackles saw-wielding man outside Ghomeshi courthouse

“As soon as this guy said something about a revolver I just reacted. It was just instinct, I just didn’t want to see anybody get hurt,” said Miller, a former bouncer.

“I didn’t want to take the chance that he didn’t have a gun or did have a gun — as soon as he said the word revolver I tackled him.”

“Then I went back to work,” Miller said.

The suspect was kept pinned to the ground before police arrived soon after.

Police spokeswoman Const. Caroline de Kloet said a 19-year-old man is facing five charges in connection with the incident: assault with a weapon, assault, threatening death, failure to comply with condition of undertaking or recognizance and disobeying a court order.

She said he appeared Friday at the Old City Hall courthouse.