Tenn. police solve mystery of clown in a van handing out candy to children, say he is 'a nice man'

Clarksville Police Department in Tennessee has investigated reports of a man dressed as a clown driving around the area and handing out candy to children. They have found that the man is actually "nice" and "did not mean any harm."

Investigators had initially received reports from a couple of fifth-grade children, in which a man dressed as a clown was offering them candy and ushering them towards his vehicle, according to WSMV.

They described the vehicle as a gray-colored sedan, and the man had a white face and red nose. A woman was also allegedly accompanying him. While the man motioned for them to come near the vehicle, the children ran away and informed administration at their school of the incident.

Police were alerted and they searched the area, unable to find a suspect. Later, an adult reported that they also saw a clown driving the vehicle around 7:15 a.m., but said no children approached.

Clarksville Police Department shared an update on the mysterious clown on Facebook.

"The great clown mystery has been solved," they wrote. "Police have located the man who was spotted in a clown costume. He is an older man who dresses up once a year on his birthday as a clown and hands out candy." Police mentioned that today is his birthday.

Police followed-up by visiting the places he frequents and verified that he did appear in a clown costume. The civilians added that he is "a nice man that dresses up and is known to give out candy," according to police. "Police had contact with him and he said he had been dressed up as a clown and did not mean any harm."

Clarksville Police also spoke with the man and stated there was "nothing that indicated [to police] that his actions were intentionally harmful or meant to scare anyone."

"EVERYONE CAN NOW BREATHE!!!!" the police department wrote on Facebook. "Thanks to those that helped us solve the mystery and to make contact with the man."

While many on social media applauded the police's quick work and thorough investigation, some were still a bit unnerved by the story itself.

"Thank you for figuring it out! Glad all is OK and I hope he can still manage to have an amazing birthday. It was a kind gesture misunderstood thanks to sinister world we live in. With that being said, proud of the kiddos for playing it safe," one wrote.

"I still don’t like this," another commented. "He may have good intentions and be a 'nice' man. But Ted Bundy was a charmer and a nice man! I think in this day and age it’s not appropriate to do so."

A fellow commenter shared: "Never heard of this before. Not in the world now! To much evil out there. Crazy!"

One mother wondered: "How do yall know [it’s] not just a cover story?? Maybe I'm being a paranoid mom but some people will say anything to cover their butts.”

Still, others were touched by the anonymous man's gesture and felt bad that it may have been misconstrued.

"Aww, sweet man. He probably had no clue how people would take it," one shared.

One well-wisher wrote: "Happy Birthday to the awesome clown! Sorry people were scared of you!!! Hope you still had an awesome day though!!!!”

"Poor guy.... I wanna go hang out with him now," another shared.

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