toronto

Shane Farberman says it was no laughing matter.

And the Thornhill man, who has spent 32 years working across North America as “Doo Doo the Clown,” knows funny.

But when he spotted a man running down Front St., near Bathurst St., Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m., wearing only a pair of shorts, a shirt and no shoes, he knew it fit more in the funny “peculiar” category.

Moments later, Farberman, dressed in his full clown costume and make-up, saved two women being menaced by the emotionally distressed man.

“It wasn’t a laughing matter,” he said. “It wasn’t fun at all. It was pretty terrifying.”

Returning home from a performance with his clown troupe downtown, he spotted the man, who was leaping on the hoods of several cars on Front St. and appeared out of control.

Concerned, Farberman pursued the man and called 911 to alert police. After turning on to Bathurst St., he saw the man approach two women. The man pushed one of them and stumbled off to the side, looking back.

“I rolled down the window and screamed, ‘Get in my car,’ probably 20 times. I couldn’t even hear 911 because I was so freaked out,” Farberman recalled. “I had a pregnant clown and another clown in my backseat and both women dove right in.”

A video from Farberman’s dash cam shows the man sprint back towards the vehicle, chasing the women. Off camera, Farberman said, the man briefly struggles with another person who was walking down the street. He then turns his attention back to Farberman’s SUV.

“Everyone was screaming in the car,” he added. “I was afraid he was going to open the door. I thought it was locked but I didn’t want to take a chance. He started kicking it and whacking it. He grabbed the mirror, put his feet up on the door and just ripped it right off.

“He wasn’t talking, it was more like growling. You could hear it in the video. He’s just off his mind and very dangerous. Pushing and hitting.”

Toronto Police and ambulance personnel arrived. Const. Craig Brister confirmed that a man was arrested after the incident under the Mental Health Act. Charges are pending, he said.

“I’m just glad everyone is OK,” Farberman said. “It took eight officers to hold that guy down.”

Farberman said he doesn’t consider himself a hero and was just concerned that man might hurt himself or someone else.

“All in a day’s work, clowning around,” he said, smiling.