Townsville man Tased after highway stand-off

Police tasered a 45 year-old man twice after he allegedly refused to drop a long filleting knife and was "threatening motorists" on a busy north Queensland street.

Officers were called to Ross River Road in Aitkenvale, a Townsville suburb, at 11.20am on May 4.

Footage of the stand-off, filmed by onlookers, shows the man brandishing a weapon and dodging police on the multi-lane road.

"What's the point mate?" one onlooker said while filming the incident.

Police said they called for the man to drop his knife but he allegedly refused.

Officers followed the man to a footpath and deployed the taser.

"With the first deployment being ineffective, a second taser was deployed with immediate effect and the man was taken into custody without incident," Queensland Police said.

Footage shows the man yelling in pain as he dropped to his knees.

"Tasered him, f--king beauty," an onlooker said.

No members of the public or police force were injured during the incident, Queensland Police said.

Police said the man was taken to Townsville Hospital and was later released into their custody.

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The Collinsville man is facing multiple charges including 'going armed so as to cause fear' and obstructing a police officer, police said.

He is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on May 5.