Recent Spike in Clown Sightings

Creepy clowns are being seen all over the United States.
The sightings have been keeping officers busy, but are clowns really a threat to our community? News 25’s Gina Tomlinson caught up with local law enforcement and shares what they expect for Halloween on the Coast this year.
Clowns, normally a birthday party favorite or the star in a horror film, but lately they have become an internet sensation and for some communities, a danger. Biloxi resident Ryan Broussard said, “They’ve been all over the place. All over. Pretty much from North Carolina to Alabama and they’ve done all kinds of different threats to the schools and stuff.”
Reports of clowns carrying knives, being arrested and even some cases of attacking people have been making headlines. With Halloween creeping up on the calendar, police expect to see them on the Coast. Gulfport PD Public Information Officer Sgt. Joshua Bromen said, “It might be the costume of the year. I mean, every year you are going to have some costume. One year, the “Scream” masks were really popular.”
Police say around Halloween they see a surge in service calls and they’ll be stepping up enforcement to try to ensure everyone has a safe night.
Some local residents say they wouldn’t dress up as a clown this year and tell News 25 if they were to see one before Halloween it would be no laughing matter.
Gulfport resident Vicky Fletcher said, “It if was maybe peeping in the windows or at the house or running towards me, maybe run or call the cops.”
“Hide and call the police,” said Broussard.
Gulfport police say clowns don’t pose too much of a threat on the Coast and they’re not too worried about them causing any trouble this year. “Our main issue is public safety. We’re not necessarily worried about the costume you’re wearing. Clowns aren’t new. It’s just a fad like anything else,” said Bromen.
Police say they will not automatically assume people dressed up as clowns will make trouble for them on Halloween. “But, if you’re threatening people or scaring people, it will be addressed as a law enforcement matter,” said Bromen.