Police swooped on a Gateshead street after a man was seen threatening people with a knife, according to witnesses.
Police received a report that a man had a dispute with occupants of an Audi A3 outside the Tesco on Carr Hill Road.
The incident took place at around 8pm on Wednesday.
Witnesses said the man was in possession of a knife and had been threatening a group of people in the car.
Police said that no-one was reported to have been injured during the incident.
Officers carried out a search of a home in the area but those involved were not located.
Police are now appealing for witnesses of the incident to come forward.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “At about 8pm on Wednesday we received a report of a dispute between a man and the occupants of an Audi A3 outside the Tesco on Carr Hill Road in Gateshead.
"Nobody was reported to have been injured but witnesses told us the man was in possession of a knife and had been threatening the occupants of the Audi before entering a nearby address.
"Officers attended the area, and carried out a search of a property in the area, but none of those involved have been identified or located.
"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and anyone with information, or who saw the altercation, is asked to contact us through our website, or by calling 101, and quoting log 1195 09/06/21.”
