Faces charges by the cartload

A heroin user pushing a stolen shopping cart near the Powerhouse Arts District was arrested after swinging a knife at two police officers Monday evening, police reports said.

Police patrolling in the PAD area because of recent complaints about break-ins saw a suspicious-looking man, later identified as Billy Washington, 52, of Armstrong Avenue, at around 6:15 p.m. pushing a BJ's shopping cart and peering into car windows near Christopher Columbus Drive and Marin Boulevard, reports said.

Police began interviewing Washington and noticed several burglary tools including wires, a hammer and a screwdriver in his possession, reports said. After advising him that taking a shopping cart off the premises is shoplifting, he pulled a knife from his cart and swung it toward the officers, then dropped the knife and shoved one of the cops before fleeing, police said.

The officers - joined by three other cops - chased him on foot and caught up with him as he ran north on Washington Street. Police found two bags of heroin in his wallet, police said.