Creepy clown craze update as Halloween approaches

Since August, the so-called creepy clown craze has been hitting the nation with sightings in at least 10 different states. The New York Times state that false reports or threats in connection to sightings of “creepy clowns” have led to the arrest of 12 people in over 10 states.

Authorities at New Haven Public Schools in Connecticut even banned students from dressing up in costumes to prevent any confusion.

The horror king himself, Stephen King, even tweeted out that it was time to cool the clown hysteria.

Despite many sightings, local authorities say they just seem to be pranks. 

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office tells us they traditionally put out extra deputies patrolling on Halloween, due to the number of children on the street.

Lieutenant Tim Robinson says, “This whole clown thing is kind of crazy. It seems like it has taken a life of its own and a lot of people are either trying to play on people’s fears or a lot of these sighting’s are now being proven to be hoaxes or individuals trying to scare somebody.”

If you see any suspicious act or anything out of the ordinary, authorities advise you to not take the situation into your own hands and to contact police immediately.

We even spoke to one local professional clown entertainer, Sandy Johnson, who told us about how these pranksters are not real clowns, but rather those who are instilling fear through a mask.

Johnson says it is heartbreaking to see this happening as she says real clowns are often small town businesses people who do a lot of community work and fundraising.

Johnson states, “It’s not even the dollars that hurt us so much it’s the idea to think that we would possibly do anything to harm a child. We just don’t want people to be frightened of real professional clowns rather than pranksters.”