Valley cops, school officials on alert for clown sightings, real or imagined

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police and schools officials in the Mahoning Valley are on alert for clown sightings – real or imagined.

City police found five bags of marijuana on a man they arrested after investigating a report of clowns on a South Side street.

Reports said officers were called to the 100 block of Hilton Avenue about 8:30 p.m. Monday for a report of three people wearing clown masks walking in the street.

When police found the three, they asked their names. Reports said one of them, Jimmy Torres, 30, of Ferndale Avenue, gave police a false name.

Reports said when police checked his real name, they found Torres has several traffic warrants from municipal court. When he was searched before being taken into custody on the warrants, police found the marijuana, reports said.

Boardman schools on Tuesday, meanwhile, addressed concerns about recent clown sightings and clown-related social media posts.

The school district sent out this message from Superintendent Timothy L. Saxton: “This is a message meant to provide reassurance to all of you. I am aware, as are all building principals, our school resource officers, and the Boardman police department, of the clown postings that have been circulating on social media.”

A “Youngstown Clowns” Instagram account recently posted a list of area school districts, including Boardman, that the clowns purportedly intended to visit. Additionally, some local police departments, such as Canfield, have reported recent issues involving people dressed as clowns.

“We are inclined to consider these postings a hoax meant to create uncertainty and chaos,” Saxton’s statement continued. “However, as with all social media rumors, our district responds by enlisting the assistance of our local police force just to make sure that we have extra attention during this time of concern.

“I just want to remind you that our school is the safest place for your child to be. Safety is always our number one concern, and your child is always protected as if he or she is our very own child,” Saxton said.

He encouraged parents to contact their child’s principal or a school resource officer if they have questions or concerns.

The Girard Police Department, meanwhile, has asked its officers to be on the lookout after a concerned citizen made a clown-related report Monday.

Police were alerted to the presence of two people wearing clown masks in a red pickup truck near East Liberty Street.

Police told 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, two people dressed as clowns were seen inside the truck, which was traveling behind a school bus.

Police said that when the bus turned away, the truck did not follow.

There is no indication the people made threats or engaged in illegal activity, police said.