SALEM, OR-- A local McDonald's fast food restaurant was shut down last Friday when a clown was sighted "interacting with kids," in broad daylight.

Upon entering the restaurant in South Salem, Melissa O'doneley and her two sons were the first to declare the clowns presence. Witnesses confirmed that nobody had said a single word about the clown prior to the O'doneley's entrance.

"I feared for my life," O'doneley reported, "Not to mention the lives of those poor kids."

Melissa acted right away, tackling the clown to the ground. She told reporters shortly after the incident that nobody "even tried to help a little," when she took action. "It's sad," she said, "even warnings from the news can't inform ignorant parents."

Michael Spates, store manager, even defended the clown, telling Melissa, "It's Ronald McDonald, the store mascot!" To which Melissa responded that she didn't care, and proceeded to punch the clown in the nose. After a few minutes of scuffle, the clown ran from the restaurant in tears, witnesses recalled. Melissa gathered her kids and promptly left the restaurant, calling the police.

Spates told reporters that the kids were having a "good time" with the clown before Mrs. O'doneley arrived, and that they even had "smiles on their faces."

When asked about the manager's remarks, O'doneley had no comment.

An hour after the clown had left, authorities arrived and shut down the restaurant until further investigation could be conducted. Police currently have no leads as to the whereabouts of a one "Ronald McDonald," but they plan to continue the investigation until the suspect is found. "Clowns appearing in the cover of night is one thing," an officer told reporters at the crime scene, "but this is the first we have ever seen in the middle of the day. It's unsettling at best, there is no telling what they will do next."