Creepy Clown Reports Lead to Connecticut Arrests

A number of vague creepy clown threats have popped up on social media lately across Connecticut. They were followed by several arrests.

The trend in Connecticut and elsewhere in the country has some on edge, but many threats have already been ruled not credible by local police departments and officials.

Clown impact carried into Thursday. State Police warned would-be clown pranksters that there could be criminal consequences to their actions.

Three teens were arrested by Ansonia Police in connection with social media threats. Arrests were also made in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls.

Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford will have an increased police presence throughout the day after a specific threat to the school.

“It's the scary version of the ridiculous headlines you all saw a few months ago saying some A-list celebrity was moving to your town,” Middletown Mayor Dan Drew said about rumors of creepy clowns in his town. “I kept seeing headlines saying Bill Murray was moving to Middletown and that Brad Pitt was moving to Meriden, but it isn't true.”

Rumors prompted hundreds of UConn students to leave their dormitories in search of the creepy clowns. Some were armed with golf clubs and hockey sticks.

A rumor spread that Quinnipiac University in Hamden was on lockdown Monday night, but the school tweeted that everything was running normally. Public safety received several reports about a clown but found nothing upon investigation, according to the Hartford Courant.

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New Haven Public School and police officials investigated clown-related Instagram posts.

“At this time there is no indication this incident poses any real or substantial threat to New Haven Public Schools or students,” said New Haven Public Schools spokeswoman Mercy Quaye.

The director of security for the school system has asked principals to prohibit clown costumes “and any symbols of terror” during the Halloween season.

Cases remain open and New Haven Police have about a dozen police personnel investigating, said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman.

"We are not seeing a tangible threat, but that does not mean we aren’t keeping eyes and ears open," he said.

Any police action will be on a case by case basis.

"One thing we aren’t taking this as is a joke, this impacts people and budgets," he said.

The state has laws regarding school threats, but so far New Haven cases haven't reached that level, Hartman said.

Recently some middle school students were horsing around with a clown mask, which was confiscated, said New Haven Superintendent Garth Harries.

Related stories:

• 'Scary Clown' Rumors Send UConn Students into the Cemetery and Streets With Hockey Sticks and Golf Clubs
• Creepy Clown Threats Prompt Police Presence at Wallingford Schools
• Vandal Tags Meriden Car with Clown Graffiti, Vulgar Marking
• Naugatuck Police Investigate Clown Messages
• 2 Teens Arrested for Creepy Clown Posts on Social Media in Naugatuck: UPDATE
• Creepy Clown Rumors Prompt Police Presence at Cheshire, North Haven Schools
• ‘Creepy’ Clown Threat Targets Wallingford Schools, Prompts Police Presence

It isn’t the first time that creepy clown reports have become a trend before Halloween. Reports date back to at least 1981, according to Slate. In many instances the clowns aren’t found.

The first creepy clown report this year was in South Carolina in mid-August when a group of children told a sinister tale of clowns living in an abandoned house in the woods and trying to entice them with money to follow them into the woods, The New York Times reported. Police weren’t sure at the time if the sightings were real or the product of children’s imaginations.

So far, about a dozen people have been arrested in multiple states, and there have been creepy clown reports in at least 28 states, according to media reports. Creepy clown reports have resulted in school lockdowns in Reading, Ohio and Alabama.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton tweeted Tuesday morning that no clowns were sighted in the city after several people tweeted to his popular Twitter account about clowns in town.

Calls were made to Sacred Heart University security and Fairfield Police early Oct. 3 concerning social media-reported sightings of a clown in a vehicle sitting outside a Bridgeport residence that was occupied by SHU students. A resident took a photograph, and Bridgeport Police arrived and found no clown or vehicle.

SHU notified students and staff that the university will investigate any reported instance involving students, both on and off campus. The university noted that students found to be dressing as clowns in order to be disruptive or cause fear could face discipline. Any clowns who aren’t members of the school community could face trespassing charges if found on campus.

Local police can charge menacing clowns with breach of peace or disorderly conduct if they determine the conduct rose to a criminal level.

Naugatuck Police investigated several social media posts that vaguely mention clowns and local schools.

“We do not believe to be credible, however the Naugatuck police are thoroughly investigating these posts and any persons connected to them," police said in a statement.

Security and a police presence was added at schools Tuesday.

In a Tuesday morning update, Naugatuck Police Lt. Bryan Cammarata said "just an update to all you parents out there - ALL IS WELL!!"

"The schools are all in session and the day has been very uneventful ... except for learning ... there is much learning taking place ... and clown free learning at that ...," Cammarata said.

Hartford Deputy Chief Brian Foley urged people to drop the clown hoax.

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Patch Editor Beth Dalbey contributed to this story.

Patch file photo