He has been a voice of reason during the Democratic Intervetion marches, calling on the Los Angeles Police Departement to stand down from tactics that he feels are unjust and inciting in nature. Perhaps this is why the boys in blue decided to put down the doughnuts long enongh to arrest him on August 15th, after he warned members of PETA and the Black Bloc about their rights to legal representation.

Clown Man, whose real name Vernen (or something close to it), was charged with "illegal use of a sound device," despite the fact that he obeyed police warnings to cease using his bullhorn without a fight.

Despite this strange retroactive enforcement of a violation that was changed from a warning to an arrest without clear reason, Clown Man says that he was treated fairly by the LAPD. However, he is still commited to filing a suit against the department in connection to the choice made to arrest him, even though he followed the order to stop using his bullhorn. Police took his bullhorn once he was in custody and it has yet to be returned.

Early reports that his rights were violated when he asked for a legal consul during detainment and was ignored are false, as those in police custody do not have the right to legal aid until they are arrested.