A car with a crossbow in it was stopped by police in downtown Toronto on Scott Street near The Esplanade. (CBC)

A man who drove into downtown Toronto with implements including a chainsaw, gas cans and a crossbow in his car is not connected with the G20 summit, police say.

But a spokesperson with the Integrated Security Unit said the Whitby man, 53, has been charged with weapons dangerous. The spokesperson would not say whether the charge was related to the crossbow.

Officers arrested the man, who was driving an older silver Hyundai with a homemade box on its roof, during a routine stop at the intersection of Scott Street and The Esplanade, near the Sony Centre and Union Station, a few blocks from the summit site.

The man, identified by police as Gary McCullough, is being held at a special summit detention centre but police suggest he won't face charges.

Witnesses said the the man was distraught after being arrested.

"He just didn't know what was going on, next thing you know he's arrested in handcuffs. He was really more concerned about his dog, making sure someone was going to look after his dog," one witness told CBC News.

'Don't bring weapons into the area'

Toronto police Chief Bill Blair stressed that it is not illegal to possess any of the items found in the car.

"The law is the law — it hasn't changed under these circumstances," he said, referring to heightened security around the G20 summit.

"But quite clearly if an individual comes down into the area … and is carrying things that could be used as a weapon, that matter's going to be investigated by the police, and those items can be removed from that individual in the interests of maintaining a safe environment for everybody."

Blair warned others about bringing "anything that could be used as a weapon or might be construed as a weapon" into the area.

"It will undoubtedly draw the attention of the authorities," Blair said. "If you don't want that attention, don't bring weapons into the area."

With files from The Canadian Press