East Hampton Town Police Urge Residents to Avoid Creepy Clown Costumes in Light of Recent Threats

EAST HAMPTON, NY — As creepy clown sightings and threats sweep the nation, East Hampton Town Police are asking residents to consider another costume on Halloween.

East Hampton Police took their warning to Twitter, saying the discourage citizens from "wearing clown costumes" this Halloween season, due to "recent criminal and public safety issues nationally."

East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo told Patch the Tweet was "nothing formal, just a request that people consider the alarm and uncomfortable situations, and potentially dangerous situations, that could be caused by people wearing clown costumes. Common sense, really."

The creepy clown sightings have caused concerns on Long Island: In September, two school districts were placed on lockout due to clown-related threats.

And in October, the recent rash of clown sightings reached a scary new height when a knife-wielding person dressed as a clown chased a teenager in Lakeview.

Across the United States, clown sightings have led to arrests. And earlier in October, in New York, in the latest of dozens of creepy clown sightings and attacks reported across America over the past few weeks, a man dressed as a clown was spotted tormenting subway passengers at the 96th Street subway station on the Upper East Side, local police told Patch.

The clown appeared around 1:55 p.m. in the doorway of an incoming 6 train, where he blocked passengers from exiting, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

One brave 16-year-old ran past the clown and through the train doors, police said — only to find the clown chasing him out of the station. As he glanced back, the teen told police he saw the clown holding a kitchen knife.

Photo by davocano via Flickr Commons.