Over the last several days, the Sheboygan Police Department along with other local law enforcement agencies had received several calls regarding reports of suspicious activity involving individuals who are reported to be dressed as clowns. The activity primarily involved being on the reporting persons property or nuisance activity. The complaints were investigated and one incident resulted in persons being contacted acting inappropriately during these initial reports. Police also observed that through the use of social media reports of related behavior manifested and subsequent investigation addressed any issues.
On October 5th, 2016, at approximately 11:30 PM, an officer observed and was advised by alert residents that a male was running in the alley’s in the area of North 3rd and Erie Avenue wearing a clown mask. The investigating officer contacted a 20 year old male and discovered he had a clown mask in his possession. The male was subsequently arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and transported to the detention center.
The Sheboygan Police Department recognizes that dressing in this fashion is not illegal though trespassing on property, harassing residents, posting threatening messages on social media, and any other illegal activity is and can result in a citation or an arrest. The Sheboygan Police Department discourages this activity and encourages residents to report incidents that are suspicious in nature.
