Numerous reports of clown sightings have created alarm throughout towns in the southern region of the United States, and for one Kentucky town, the sighting resulted in an arrest.
Police in Middlesboro arrested Jonathan Martin, 20, after his suspicious behavior near a wooded area attracted the attention of Barbourville officers on Sept. 23. Martin was wearing a clown costume and seen crouching in a ditch as he tried to scare people.
He has been charged disorderly conduct and cited for wearing a mask in a public place, reported WKYT. He also had two warrants for non-payment of fines and for failure to appear for arraignment. He is being held at Bell County Detention Center.
Middlesboro police catch man in scary clown costume. More on @WKYT @WYMT pic.twitter.com/cVvTQNqikx
— Phil Pendleton (@philtvnews) September 23, 2016
The police department have received several complaints about clown sightings, according to its Facebook page, adding the prank has “created a real concern and risk” to its citizens.
“Please refrain from this unnecessary activity. While dressing up is not, in and of itself against the law, doing so in public and thereby creating an unnecessary sense of alarm is illegal, read the statement. “Approaching people in a threatening manner and threatening people is illegal. If you create such a situation that violates the law you will be charged and arrested.”
Jonathan Martin arrested after Middlesboro police says he was hiding in ditch line, trying to scare people. pic.twitter.com/l0IaHSTEmQ
— Phil Pendleton (@philtvnews) September 23, 2016
There have been several clown sightings throughout towns in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, where clowns have made attempts to lure children into the woods.
On Sept. 21, an 11-year-old Georgia girl told school officials that she carried a knife to school to protect herself from clowns in the area. She was charged with weapon possession on school grounds and released to her mother.
The latest clown sighting was in Palm Bay, Florida, where a woman said she seen two clowns while walking her dog.
“I saw them…two clowns just sitting there staring at me,” Kelly Reynolds told Florida Today.”I never run but I turned and ran back to my home as fast as I can. These clowns have to go away.”
Greenville Police Chief Ken Miller said in a press conference on Sept. 1 that he wasn’t sure of the motives of the clowns—whether if was connected to the new film, “31”or to “somewhat politely terrorize the public,”—but he wanted the mischievous behavior to end.
