A man believed to be mentally ill caused a disturbance in Helena Monday when he took his clothes off at a busy intersection.

Police Capt. Tim Carter said the man, who was not identified, was traveling in a personal vehicle at around 2 p.m. when he got out and took his clothes off in the middle of the street at the intersection of Shelby County 17 and 52.

He then went into the Chevron service station at the intersection, where police were able to catch him.

Carter said police were uncertain what had caused the man’s breakdown.

“We didn’t get that much information out of him because of his state of mind,” Carter said.

Carter said he was originally told the man had traveled in a taxi. Late Wednesday night, he found out the man was actually in a personal vehicle when the incident occurred.

He said the man is being transported to a hospital for a mental evaluation and observation.