Calls about creepy clowns slowing officers' response to real crime

SEATTLE — Police around Western Washington say they're being run ragged checking on reports of menacing-looking clowns.

The nationwide trend has police being pulled away from keeping the community safe.

A KIRO 7 viewer provided a photo of a clown spotted along the Green Lake jogging path Monday night. It's just one of several sightings in Western Washington.

Law enforcement says they need such clown pranks to stop and need the public’s help to evaluate what is a prank and what is a real threat.

When KIRO 7 showed people the picture of the creepy clown seen near Green Lake, many said if they saw him, they would probably call 911.

And that's exactly what's happening.

“These calls are taxing our resources,” said King County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Cindi West.

Law enforcement around Western Washington say they are getting dozens of calls about the clowns or just about pictures of them posted online.

At Tahoma High School in Covington Tuesday, a school resource officer confronted a student who showed up in a clown mask following social media posts that showed a clown with a gun.

The officer had his firearm at his side, but holstered it when he realized the student was not a threat.

And Wenatchee High School is adding armed security to homecoming activities this week following threats posted in the bathroom.

Other schools from Snohomish County to Pierce County have put out warnings like one from Seattle Schools that read, in part:

"We are working closely with Seattle Police Department to investigate all concerns related to this social media trend."

“We do have an obligation to investigate, especially the ones at the school, to make sure they’re not credible, but we’re using an incredible amount or resources,” said West.

West with the King County Sheriff's Office and Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department say each time their deputies have to investigate one of those situations, whether it’s a prank or not, it's slowing response to actual crime calls like burglaries and car break-ins.

“In the last few days, all our school resource people, some of our patrol people, some of our detectives, are doing nothing but working on these clown sightings – these threats that are coming in,” said Troyer.

Officers are asking people who are dressing up as clowns to stop, and until it goes away, they ask the public to carefully evaluate any situation before picking up the phone.

“If they’re on your private property, or doing something suspicious, other than wearing a clown outfit, then call us,” said West.

Another concern from law enforcement is that someone dressed up like a clown will be pepper-sprayed or otherwise attacked and hurt by a fearful person.

Cox Media Group