Scary Clown Sightings Prompt Law Enforcement Warnings

It was only a matter of time before the concern about crazed clowns showing up on the streets made its way to Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

It's possible that it took a little longer because Portland - where sightings of a bagpipe-playing, unicycle-riding man dressed as Darth Vader are commonplace — has a fairly high bar for weird.

But this week, the concerns about threatening clowns have made it to the area with a vengeance.

And, as expected, they have prompted a series of warnings from law enforcement — mostly saying, a rumor is just a rumor but they take all threats seriously.

Law enforcement agencies from Portland to Hillsboro to Grants Pass to Hermiston have received reports of people encountering scary clowns.

There have been no reports of assaults or injuries.

While all law enforcement agencies say they take all threats seriously, one — tongue firmly in cheek — offered some tips to protect yourself.

"Clowns are no laughing matter for some people but, generally speaking, aren’t committing a crime when they are clowning around," said Portland Police Spokesman Sergeant Pete Simpson. "Anytime someone is the victim of a crime, clown or not, we encourage a call to 9-1-1.

"Otherwise, people are probably safe to carry an old fashioned seltzer bottle or a glitter bomb just in case. Now mimes are a different story.'

Patch file photo