Community Corner
Creepy Clown Outside Mall Cited For Disorderly Conduct
A Halloween store manager who prowled a strip mall parking lot recently while trying to drum up business got a visit from police.

THE WOODLANDS, TX — The manager of a local Halloween store was only trying to scare up some business ahead of the spooky fall ritual when he donned a creepy clown mask, and stood outside a shopping mall grasping a bloody plastic meat cleaver.
Instead, Allen Henry, who manages the Halloween Express store at the strip center, received a visit from the Oak Ridge North Police Department, who chided him or his scary activities and issued him a citation for disorderly conduct.
The reason for the ticket wasn't solely because of Henry's get up, but the complaints that Henry terrorized and pursued customers in the strip center parking lot, while wearing his costume and mask, officials said.
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Crystal Jones claimed Henry was wearing his creepy clown mask and carrying his plastic cleaver when he approached her and her son while they were in their car outside the strip center. Once he was close enough, Jones said the clown tried to open their car door, KHOU reported.
Meanwhile, Henry claimed he mean no one any harm, and if someone doesn't want to be scared, he takes off the mask, and he leaves them alone.
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Henry said he felt the police officer who issued him the citation may have overreacted, especially since he doesn't feel he committed an offense.
However, police said they were more concerned that someone with a concealed handgun license would shoot Henry if he surprised them with his clown mask, and made them feel threatened.
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