What describes how the police conveyed their information about the man?

The choice indicating that the police "was reported to have been helping" effectively conveys the manner in which information was communicated regarding the man. This phrasing suggests that there is an element of informal information relay, typically associated with news reports or public announcements, where "reported to" implies that someone other than the police could have provided insight about the man's actions.

This option maintains a neutral tone that indicates a possibility rather than a certainty, making it a fitting choice for describing how such information is typically disseminated by police to the public. In contrast, other choices may imply varying degrees of certainty or formality, which do not align as well with the general context of police communications.