Creepy Clown Sightings May Be 'Prank,' Cops Say; LI Schools Placed on Lockout After Social Media Threats

Two Long Island school districts placed schools on lockout Friday morning because of clown-related threats.

North Babylon High School was placed on lockout after school officials became aware that the school was included in a string of clown-related social media threats. The threats come a day after the Suffolk County Police Department received reports regarding a person dressed as a clown in North Babylon and a group of people dressed as clowns jumping in front of cars in Brentwood.

"Law enforcement officials conducted an investigation and deemed there to be no threat and that our campus is safe," North Babylon Superintendent Glen Eschbach said in a statement. "In response, 'lock out' procedures were lifted at 10:45 a.m. However, out of an abundance of caution, the high school will remain in a closed campus scenario where students may not leave campus during school hours."

• Sign up for a daily Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts

Schools in the Central Islip School District were also placed on lockout Friday morning because of clown-related threats. That lockout, instituted in "an abundance of caution," has since been lifted, according to the district's website.

In Lindenhurst, school officials there said they were "made aware of a tweet threatening that Lindenhurst would be the next area targeted by the clowns."

The following tweet (which includes an image of a knife) was posted on Twitter at 7:06 a.m. by someone using the handle "SuffolkClown666."

Elementary school students in Lindenhurst were kept inside for recess Friday, and the district's security team is on "high alert," Lindenhurst Superintendent Daniel Giordano said.

The local clown sightings are part of a disturbing national trend. Twelve people in seven states have been arrested in recent weeks for dressing up as clowns and chasing people or making false reports or threats, according to a New York Times report.

Regarding the clown sightings in Suffolk Thursday, Suffolk County Police Chief of Department Stu Cameron said the department "has not confirmed any of these reports and our officers have not personally witnessed any individual wearing a clown costume."

"We understand this may be a social media prank throughout the country, but we take quite seriously all calls that involve intentional harassment, trespassing, disturbing of the peace, and reported activity that results in the citizens of our county feeling threatened," Cameron said. "The public should be aware there have been no reported assaults nor credible threats against public safety within the county."

Police officials are reminding the public that falsely reporting an incident, intentional harassment, threatening of individuals or disturbing of the peace can lead to legal consequences.

"We are closely monitoring all social media channels and calls made to the department," Cameron said.

Photo/Flickr/CreativeCommons/davocano