Clowning Around: Man Arrested After Painting Face With Clown Makeup and Allegedly Carrying Hatchet

A North Carolina man with clown paint on his face and a hatchet in his backpack has been arrested, police said. 

Read: Grandfather in Clown Mask, Boxing Gloves Menaces Students Through School Windows: Cops

Police said they responded to a call about a suspicious man in a convenience store. When they arrived, the man had left the store, but officers found him nearby, authorities said.

Travis Quenton Pressley, 20, was arrested and charged with trespassing, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. 

“It’s certainly the first arrest of an illegal clown in this area,” Union County Sheriff's Officer Tony Underwood told Inside Edition. “It’s kind of funny.”

Read: 3-Ring Searches: Students Go Hunting for Clowns as Reports of Creepy Sightings on the Rise

A nationwide clown craze has caused people to be on edge in recent weeks. 

Union County officers said since the phenomenon began, they've gotten calls from residents asking if any clowns have been seen in their area. 

Watch: Creepy Clowns Cause Chaos and Fear Across America As Sightings Are On The Rise