Gilroy man terrifies drivers wearing clown costume, waving machete

A Gilroy man is free after deputies said he was standing along the side of Highway 101 in Aromas Wednesday afternoon, wearing a clown costume and waiving a machete.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said Larry Tovey, 61, was apparently trying to flag people down, when concerned drivers called 9-1-1 to report the strange incident.

Two deputies responded near the San Juan Rd. overpass, and detained Tovey with guns drawn. However he was released about an hour later, after deputies couldn’t find anything to arrest him for.

Deputies said Tovey was not hurt and left in his car, parked near the highway.