NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A man is accused of threatening workers picking up trash on Broadway early Sunday morning.

Recycling Solutions workers were picking up trash in an alley off 4th Avenue and Broadway around 12:30 p.m.

Officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department were told several people climbed onto the back of the garbage truck while it was in the alley.

The workers told them not to stand behind the truck. They told police the men complied and got out of the back of the truck.

The workers told police that one of the men began threatening them both, saying “let’s fight.”

Workers told police they repeatedly told the men to leave the area and did not want to fight, but another man joined in the threats.

The situation escalated further when both men pulled something from their waistbands, the police report states.

The workers told police they couldn’t tell what the objects were, but thought they were knives or crowbars, and one of the men began closing the distance between them.

One of the garbage collectors told police he pulled his gun on the men out of fear. They set off running. Officers were able to catch them on 4th Avenue at Molloy Street and take them into custody.

While he was being taken into custody, an eyewitness told officers that the men were seen throwing knives at that intersection.

Officers at the scene were provided with video footage of the incident, which confirmed the confrontation between Recycling Solutions employees and the men. Police said it was unclear what they had in the video.

Both men face aggravated assault on weapons charges.

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