Man erratic during son's 'abduction'

Police allege a man abducted his toddler son and went on the run in far north Queensland using scanners to monitor police.

The 33-year-old is accused of taking the boy from a home in Cairns on Wednesday afternoon, knocking over a family friend with his car as he left.

Police say they were in contact with the man, whom they described as erratic, as he allegedly drove as far south as Ingham 235km away.

The two-year-old was found in the Cairns suburb of Westcourt early on Friday morning.

The man will face Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday charged with a number of offences including assault and possession of a knife in a public.