Clown frightens Highway 101 drivers near Aromas

Clown on Highway 101. Clown on Highway 101. Photo: Courtesy William Sides Photo: Courtesy William Sides Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Clown frightens Highway 101 drivers near Aromas 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AROMAS, Calif. — A clown holding a machete over his head on Highway 101 caused a flurry of 911 calls from frightened motorists Wednesday.

The clown was wearing white and red face makeup and a colorful clown suit as he stood on the shoulder of Highway 101 next to the San Juan Road exit, halfway between Prunedale and Aromas.

911 callers said the creepy clown was staring at passing drivers.

He stuck his thumb out with one hand, as if he was trying to hitchhike, and held a machete covered in fake blood with his other hand.

Deputies had their guns drawn as they pulled up to the bizarre scene at 3:20 p.m. and confronted the 6'2" tall, 230-pound man.

The clown was identified as 61-year-old Larry Allen Tovey of Gilroy, Monterey County Sheriff's Cmdr. John Thornburg said.

Deputies handcuffed the clown, questioned him, and determined he did not commit a crime. The machete was real, but the blood was fake, Thornburg said.

"He didn't actually threaten anybody. He just had a sick sense of humor," Thornburg said. "They let him go home."

Tovey's vehicle was parked nearby, and the Gilroy man drove off.

This story originally appeared on KSBW.