Nutley Cops Probe Creepy Clown Fear Fad, ‘No Specific Threats’ To Schools

NUTLEY, NJ — Yes, Nutley police are aware of the “creepy clown” sightings sweeping North Jersey. And no, there haven’t been any specific threats to any Nutley schools, authorities say.

The Nutley Police Department issued a statement to parents in the local public school district on Friday, briefing them on the fear fad that has resulted in several police investigations and multiple charges being filed in several states.

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“Many of you are aware of the current ‘creepy clown’ sightings that have occurred across the nation due to the social media craze,” Nutley police stated. “This has caused a lot of rumors and fear regarding the possibility of ‘creepy clowns’ coming to our local schools. Nutley police are fully aware of this and are monitoring the situation very closely.”

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Police advised that they will take all reports seriously and will “investigate all rumors as they arise,” and that officers are working with the Nutley Board of Education to put appropriate security measures into place. In the meanwhile, Nutley police asked parents to:

• "Report all possible clown rumors to the police department to ensure we can quickly investigate and dispel any rumors"
• "Help diffuse the situation by telling your children not to forward any rumors through social media"
• "Refrain from allowing students to wear creepy clown costumes on Halloween to ensure a safe, fun environment for children to enjoy trick or treating"
• "For older children, educate them that using a costume to instill fear in others could potentially lead to criminal charges for creating false public alarm, a third degree crime"

Photo: Flickr Commons