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STANDLEY |
Local law enforcement will not tolerate individuals dressing up as scary clowns to carry out pranks or commit crimes, according to a statement from Bellefontaine Police Chief Brandon Standley.
“Over the past couple of days, local law enforcement has received an increased number of calls involving individuals dressed up like clowns,” the chief reports. “This seems to be something that has started out of national trends where individuals have used clown costumes to attempt to scare others, or commit crimes while dressed in clown costume.”
Chief Standley said law enforcement will work to bring an end to the bothersome trend.
Anyone causing others to be fearful where they live, work or play will be charged, he said in the release that was circulated to other law enforcement leaders in Logan County.
“Those who are suspected in this activity are putting themselves at risk of injury or violence perpetrated towards them when others react,” his statement notes.
Elsewhere in Ohio, police say they’ve received reports of individuals dressed as clowns chasing people in two western Ohio communities.
That means that in recent weeks, people in at least seven states have reported scary or suspicious encounters with people dressed like clowns.
The Dayton Daily News reports a 28-year-old man called Greenville police to report that two clowns chased him down a street early Tuesday in that Darke County city.
Chief Dennis Butts says the man said the clowns hit him in the side and neck and stole a baseball bat from him.
No one was charged.
Closer to Dayton, police in Franklin say a woman there reported being chased by a clown.
Franklin police are discouraging people from scaring strangers, calling it childish and potentially dangerous behavior.