

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com





A well-known Toronto clown who stopped to help two women who were being attacked was recognized by the city Monday afternoon for his bravery.

“Courage and bravery are universally admired and they should be at the same time recognized and I’m pleased to be in a position to recognize your act of bravery and courage and to thank you for that. Well done,” Coun. Norm Kelly told Doo Doo the clown at city hall Monday as he presented him with a scroll.

For his part, Doo Doo said he didn’t even realize he was still in costume when he snapped into action.

“I didn’t even think of me being in clown (costume). I’ve been doing this for 32 years, so I forget that I’m in costume when I’m out there in between shows. Yeah – it was a no-brainer,” Doo Doo the clown told CP24 Monday.

The incident happened near Bathurst and Front streets Sunday afternoon as Doo Doo, a well-known clown on the Toronto scene who also appeared in the film ‘Billy Madison,’ was between shows.

“I had a carload of clowns and I was driving one of them back to Union Station and as we turned the corner, I saw this man jumping on cars. He was wearing just shorts, no shoes, no socks and a shirt,” Doo Doo said.

The clown called 911 and then turned his vehicle to keep an eye on the man.

Dash cam video of the incident obtained by The Toronto Sun showed the man shoving one of the women, walking a few metres and then turning around and running to pursue them. That’s when Doo Doo is heard on the video screaming at the women to pile into the car.

“The guy went crazy. He started kicking, banging, he ripped my mirror off. (The women) were lying on the back seat of my car on top of people,” Doo Doo said. “The only thing that stopped him was the police – they came from every direction and tackled him down. It took eight officers, so obviously something serious was wrong.”

Doo Doo told CP24 the incident was “petrifying.”

“You now that face Jack Nicholson has (in ‘The Shining’)? It was the scariest sight. He was out to get them. I had the door locked, but I was holding on for dear life. It was pretty scary for everybody,” he said.

Nevertheless, the father and husband said he didn’t think twice about helping the women.

“It wasn’t something I’d ever think I’d be involved in,” he said. “I saw those two ladies – I have a wife, I have a daughter, I have children. When I saw him running towards them after pushing them, I screamed, probably 20 times (for them to get in). You can hear me screaming.”

While he acknowledged the unusual situation “was very bizarre,” he said the ladies didn’t hesitate when he offered his help.

“There was no thinking – they ran, they jumped in,” he said.

In the end, Doo Doo said, he was just grateful no one was hurt.

“Thank goodness the worst part of it is my mirror – if that can be the worst, that’s it,” he said.

Police said Monday that 25-year-old Wei Guo has been charged with two counts of assault and one count of mischief in connection with the incident. He is believed to have been under the effects of illegal narcotics at the time of the incident, police said.

Messages praising bravery pour in

Speaking at city hall, Doo Doo said he has been “overwhelmed” with the thousands of congratulatory tweets, emails and Facebook posts people have sent him from around the world.

But the biggest praise, he said, came from his kids.

“I came in last night and the first thing my daughter said was ‘Dad you’re my hero.’ I was bawling,” the affable clown said, flanked by two of his children.

Delighted to honour @DooDoo_TheClown for his bravery this weekend. Toronto the good strikes again! pic.twitter.com/GdrjmK5Ked — Norm Kelly (@norm) November 23, 2015

Standing alongside her father at city hall, Doo Doo’s daughter once again sung his praises.

“I think he’s a hero and I think he’s amazing and I’m so proud of him. I’m so proud of what he did – he saved those two people,” she said. “He always teaches us to be good and to not just care about ourselves and to put others first and then he just showed us that by doing this and I’m so proud of him.”

Kelly praised Doo as an example for the city and said he hoped the nod at city hall would send a message that in Toronto “we look after each other.”