Chain-wielding Darwin man arrested

A Darwin man who threatened people with a length of steel chain has been arrested.

Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen said on Tuesday that a highly agitated 31-year-old male armed with a 30cm length of steel chain was threatening members of the public and damaging property outside a restaurant in the Darwin CBD at about 9pm CST on Monday.

An off-duty police officer dining inside the restaurant with his family went out to contain the man before on-duty officers arrived to arrest him, and said he was found with the drug ice.

The man is facing several weapons and drugs charges and was refused bail to appear in the Darwin Magistrates Court later on Tuesday.

"The off-duty police officer is facing the wrath of his family after leaving them alone in the restaurant - with the bill," Duty Supt Jorgensen wrote on the Northern Territory Police's Facebook page.