Police mace and chase shirtless, bare-foot 'erratic driver' down Melbourne street

A shirtless and bare-foot man was caught on camera running from police along a Melbourne street as they try to pepper spray him in the face.

Footage shows the man fleeing from two uniformed officers in North Fitzroy on Tuesday as one repeatedly blasts him with spray.

"Just another Tuesday in Straya," a witness wrote alongside the footage on Instagram.

The man can be heard yelling at police as they pursue him past a number of parked vehicles.

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After the brief chase, police caught up with the man and he was taken to hospital under police guard.

A police spokesperson said a 24-year-old man was allegedly driving erratically before crashing into a pole.

"The driver fled the scene but was located by police a short distance away. OC foam [pepper spray] was deployed but the man ran off," the statement read.

"Police chased him and arrested him nearby."

He is yet to be charged.