By Kelly Youngblood
Mahomet Police received two calls Tuesday night regarding “creepy clown” sightings but say there’s no information indicating either one represents a threat to the community.
Police responded to a call after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from someone saying they thought they saw a clown by a house on Division Street. Mahomet Chief of Police Mike Metzler said when officers arrived there was no clown.
Metzler said he believes a Mahomet resident could be dressing up as a clown and walking around town.
“I think there’s one kid around in town here who is occasionally going out (dressed up as a clown),” Metzler said. “We had a call just after 10 last night right in the same neighborhood as this kid who was wearing a clown mask with orange hair and green eyes. But again he’s not doing anything.”
Metzler said police aren’t sure but they suspect they know who it is. “We just have not been able to pin him down on it,” he said.
Another call to police later in the evening was from a resident who had a garage door open and thought “there could be a clown inside.”
If you haven’t heard about the scary clown phenomenom, here’s a brief synopsis. It started in August in South Carolina with reports of people dressed as clowns walking around scaring people. There have now been reports in 10 states, with varying degrees of seriousness.
Even the White House weighed in on Tuesday.
“Obviously, this is a situation that local law enforcement authorities take quite seriously and they should carefully and thoroughly review, you know, perceived threats to the safety of the community and they should do so prudently,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.
Metzler said there is nothing to indicate any threats related to these local incidents, noting the hysteria that has built up over the clown craze is due mostly to social media.
“The only thing I think that’s happening is that somebody has seen on social media these things going on around the country and they’re just trying to get a rise out of people. And they are succeeding,” Metzler said.
Metzler said reports of a clown in Mahomet on Tuesday morning were “an internal issue that the schools are dealing with.”
Mahomet-Seymour Junior High sent out an email to parents Tuesday stating:
“As many of you know, there are rumors circulating on social media related to a story about clown sightings that aired on WCIA last night. Please know that we are aware of the situation and as in the past, we will communicate with parents and guardians to keep you aware if a situation arises. At this time we are working to squelch current rumors.”
The Mahomet-Seymour superintendent’s office sent out the following email Wednesday:
Yesterday, we had a few parents call our school offices regarding a rumor that was spread through social media about a “clown sighting and threat.” Investigations into that report by school administration and local police found it not to be credible. No threats to Mahomet-Seymour Schools were made. Continuous conversations on social media have prompted this communication today. We did not receive a threat toward any school. However — as always — we will continue to monitor activities such as these, per our emergency protocols, hand in hand with local law enforcement agencies. As has been our past practice, if this threat would have been credible you, as a parent, would have been notified promptly.
Lieutenant Bryant Seraphin said the Urbana Police Department has not received any calls or reports of clown incidents.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Champaign Police had not received any reports regarding “creepy clowns.”
Metzler advises anyone who sees someone suspicious to call the non-emergency dispatch number at 217-333-8911.