Actual Scary Clown Arrest! Grandfather in Clown Mask Busted

It was bound to happen. Someone actually dressed as a scary clown, scaring kids has been arrested. And, yes. It happened in Portland.

Police say that they were called to Floyd Light Middle School at 10800 Southeast Washington Street around 8:30 Thursday morning for reports of a man in a clown masking scaring kids and trying to fight an adult.

Officers were met by the caller - the school's assistant prinicipal.

He told them that a man in a clown mask and boxing gloves was standing outside windows and shadowboxing toward students. When the assistant principal went outside, the angry clown threatened him and charged.

The assistant principal was not injured and called police. The clown ran toward a nearby mobile park. That's where officers found him and took him in to custody without incident.

Portland Police say that he is 55-year-old David Dahlman and he is charged with menacing. Officers were told that Dahlman had walked his grandkids to the bus stop wearing the outfit before continuing to the middle school and causing mischief.

"Although police made an arrest today based on the suspect's actions, the threat of clown violence has largely been driven by social media reports rather than actual incidents," says Portland Police spokesman Sergeant Pete Simpson.

"Members of the community who normally dress up like clowns should be aware of these concerns and should exercise due care when deciding to go out in public."

The recent increase in reports of scary clowns has prompted a series of warnings from law enforcement agencies in Oregon.

Photo Portland Police