Seen a clown? Call Police. Creepy clown sightings on the rise

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

After seeing them pop up over the weekend, now people are reporting seeing these creepy clowns, lurking around in broad daylight, even at schools.

Central Falls Police called to Calcutt Middle School Tuesday afternoon by a school resource officer who said students reported seeing a person, dressed as a clown walking around, their school grounds.

"I’m just a technician working across the street for a customer, and I saw some cops going into the school," said a witness.

When police arrived, they couldn’t find anyone.

Central Falls isn’t the only community dealing with reported "clown sightings."

URI’s Department of Public Safety told ABC6 News that a fake text circulated Monday night encouraging students to call police if they saw a clown, walking around campus.

Merrimack College students in Massachusetts were also told to "shelter in place," after a false report of a clown.

ABC6 News spoke to students from other schools, receiving threatening Facebook messages from clown accounts.

"They’re messaging kids and telling us that they’re going to come to our school and shoot the school up basically and all that," said a stuent.

Many, saying they learned about the clown sightings through social media.

"They’re just all over social media, websites. Talking about how there’s a clown in Pawtucket, you know… Woonsocket… Broad Street, ya," mentioned another student, "that one got arrested."

This picture allegedly taken at the Swansea mall parking lot Sunday night, although police didn’t find the clown.

"Ya it’s pretty creepy, I mean… I don’t think people should be doing it," said a student.

And Monday night a clown reportedly spotted in New Bedford, near the industrial park.

Swansea police said they’ve received numerous calls over the weekend and are now encouraging people who see clowns to stop posting and simply call police.

"Every October, every year, there’s always something about clowns because Halloween’s coming," said Swansea Police.

There have been concerns nationally about clowns carrying weapons.

Multiple Ohio media outlets reported three men were arrested Friday night, dressed as clowns carrying a gun, a laser, and a hatchet.

Police say to be on alert, but to let officers respond to the situation.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016