Police won’t be laughing if officers find clowns this Halloween. Chief Thedis Spencer said that jester outfits will do anything but lighten the mood.
Clown sightings have been reported across the state and nation, sparking fear when some sighted have committed crimes or allegedly tried to lure children. Police won’t be amused if they receive a call about a costumed clown.
Wadesboro hasn’t escaped the spooky trend.
“Since the late summer, there have been about a half-dozen reports of clown sightings, and some agencies are wondering if this is real or not,” Spencer said. “I received a call from an anonymous person and they reported that there was a man standing in the edge of the parking lot of Wal-mart dressed in a clown costume.”
Even Wadesboro’s top cop joined the search for the clown.
Spencer said he personally drove to the store to look for the clown, but that despite searching for 15 minutes, officers were unable to find it.
Funnymen or fools?
The trend of creepy clown sightings began in the U.S. but has spread worldwide.
Some clowns do nothing, while others have allegedly attacked people or tried to lure children.
The idea of scary clowns is nothing new. John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer and rapist convicted in 1980 in the deaths of 33 men and boys, often dressed as a clown and became known as the Killer Clown. Stephen King’s clown Pennywise creeped out moviegoers watching “It.” Some Batman movies feature the Joker, the “Clown Prince of Crime;” convicted killer James Holmes dyed his hair like the Joker when he shot his victims at a Colorado movie theater.
Greenville, South Carolina children said that clowns tried to get them to go into woods in August, beginning the trend, according to NPR. Reports of creepy clown sightings spread from there. Some clowns, like one in Middlesboro, Kentucky, have been arrested.
To prevent similar scares in Anson County, Spencer said it would be wise to leave the goofy wigs and giant red noses at home.
“In the North Carolina counties, costumes are not verboten — but officials are encouraging residents to resist putting on clown gear,” Spencer said. “Copycats unnecessarily alarm the public and place an unnecessary drain on police resources.”
Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.