A 26-year-old taxi driver who allegedly nudged a police horse with his car then almost drove into an officer will appear at Perth Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Police say the incident happened after the man attended Perth Police Station in the city at 3.40am this morning, before being asked to leave after becoming argumentative.

Half-an-hour later he is said to have driven his taxi back into Northbridge and up behind three mounted police horses patrolling Lake Street.

The man then allegedly sounded his horn several times and, after being spoken to by police, drove into one of the horses, nudging it for around five metres before taking off at speed along James Street. Then at the corner of James and William streets, he drove on the wrong side of the road.

An officer tried to stop the driver but he is said to have sped off, narrowly missing the officer, before driving through several sets of red lights, forcing members of the public to take evasive action.

He then allegedly stopped back outside Perth Police Station before being blocked in by police and, after a violent struggle, was arrested.

The man faces a number of charges, including failing to stop after an accident, reckless driving, wilfully reckless driving and obstructing police.

PERTH