A Spokane man called trick-or-treaters demons while threatening them with a large stick during a Halloween night melee in the area of East Central Avenue and North Regal Street, according to police.

John M. Gouveia, 52, alias John Sweet, remains in jail on $7,500 bond after appearing in Superior Court Monday on two counts of second-degree assault and one count of harassment.

Police responded to the area about 6:30 p.m. Sunday after witnesses said Gouveia was threatening children with the stick and told one man "that he was going to cut his heart out," according to a probable cause affidavit.

Gouveia ran at police with an 11-inch knife and called them demons but dropped the weapon when he was about 25 feet away, according to the affidavit. He was handcuffed without further incident.

Gouveia has no criminal record in Spokane County.

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