MANCHESTER — A man swinging a knife at two women in Veterans Park ultimately was confronted by the gun-toting uncle of one of them when he went to the park.

Police said the incident happened about 6:20 p.m. Monday.

James Laroche, 25, of 225 Grove St., went to the park to look for his niece when he learned she was being harassed by others. He parked his van, and he and two friends headed into the park.

From a distance, however, he could see his niece arguing with another woman. A man joined in the dispute and then pulled out a knife and began “swinging it aggressively,” according to a police news release.

Laroche, seeing this, ran back to his van, got his gun, holstered it “open carry” style on his hip and then went back into the park. By then, other people had confronted the man with the knife, who ran from the park and into Monadnock Lane.

Laroche chased after him in the alley, simultaneously calling 911 to report the incident. He came across the man hiding behind a vehicle in the alley.

The man, identified by police as Joshua Cormiea, 25, of 555 Canal St., pulled out the knife and held it at chest level, pointing it at Laroche. Laroche took out his gun, chambered a round and pointed it at the man who quickly fled up the alley.

Laroche chased after him but stopped when he encountered an officer outside the Chestnut Street police station. He again reported what happened.

Cormiea later was found inside the Victory parking garage, where he was arrested on charges of reckless conduct and criminal threatening. He did not have a knife on him, police said.

Lt. Maureen Tessier said Laroche has a gun permit.