Police said officers on patrol tried to stop a Vauxhall Astra van in Ardingly Drive, Worthing, at 8pm.
It failed to do so and officers pursued the van through Worthing until they carried out a controlled stop, a police spokesman said.
A 24-year-old man from Worthing was detained on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop a vehicle when requested by police and possession of an offensive weapon – a hammer, police said.
He has been released under investigation, according to police.