Reports Of Creepy Clown Sightings Across North Texas
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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Reports of creepy clowns have made people across the country unsettled, and now there have been several reports, at least one confirmed, of potentially dangerous people dressed as clowns in North Texas.
Monday morning there were reports of a "clown threat" targeting Skyline High School. Officials were unable to confirm if the threat is credible. Police were also at Spruce High School on Monday morning for unknown reasons. It was later said to be unrelated to "clown threats."
And in Tarrant County, officials with the Fort Worth Police Department say they got an unusual call around 11:30 Sunday night. The caller told officers that someone was dressed up as a clown, and running and screaming down Melanie Lane in north Fort Worth.
And police have a warning for people intent on dressing up like clowns who are up to no good -- don't. Here's a statement as to why:
"No one dressed in clown attire has committed an offense that we know of in Fort Worth. However, there have been calls received by the Fort Worth Police Department about people dressed as clowns causing disturbances that are frightening our citizens. One such call occurred near IH35W and Western Center where a person dressed as a clown was seen screaming and running down a sidewalk. At this time, these incidents seem to be pranks carried out by people intent on creating fear and not necessarily committing criminal acts. The people carrying out these pranks should be aware that their acts could cross the line into criminal activity and they could be subject to arrest. Also, in this day and age, the general public is hyper-vigilant and more willing to protect themselves and their families using force if necessary. Anyone willing to go out into the public in a clown costume bent on committing intimidation and fear should be prepared for the possible consequences. The Fort Worth Police Department would implore those who have been doing these acts to stop immediately and those who have contemplated doing these acts to reconsider and refrain from participating in a dangerous game that could get someone hurt."
Alas, no one was hurt by the latest clown sightings. Police said they didn't make an official report since no evidence of a crime exists. But it is the first clown sighting in North Texas confirmed by police.
Reports of clowns began surfacing across the country in August. In Ohio, clown related threats on social media put one school on lockdown, and forced an entire school district to cancel classes for a day. Kids in South Carolina reported similar eerie sightings of clowns in the woods.
Nationwide, police are examining each threat but said many of them appear to be nothing more than hoaxes.
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