No “Clowning” Around In Florida

Florida Clowns Are In Big Trouble With Authorities

Florida residents have seen the creepy clown sightings that have been taking place in other states. But now they are finding their state on national news for these clown sightings as well.

Reports to local law enforcement of clown sightings have reached all across Florida. The most recent reporting was Tuesday night in Gainesville. The clown was reported on foot and gave someone an uncomfortable stare-down. That was the second clown sighting report, earlier children reported seeing a van with four men dressed up like clowns looking frighten people.

Further south in Palm Bay, Fla residents and authorities have been on high alert since a resident reported seeing two clowns staring at her from across the road while she was walking her dog.

Within that same time span a video surfaced on Facebook of clowns standing silently on the side of a popular road lurking in tall grass at night in Marion County, Fla. The clown’s mask’s orange matted hair, big eyes, red nose and contorted face sent chills down the spine of residents.

Earlier this month a video surfaced out of Pensacola, of a clown lurking in someones backyard. Two days later the poster of the video explained this wasn’t part of the clown sightings that have been taking place, but instead it was a private prank meant only for her.

Across the country police have been doing their best to arrest these clowns. Authorities are not only worried about the residents safety, but the clowns run the risk of being shot by someone that might be a concealed weapons carrier if they are frightened badly enough.

Luckily in Florida there is one law that might help charge these creepy clowns. In Florida it is illegal to wear a mask with the intent to intimidate or harass a person. Although there is exemptions to this law (Halloween), anyone using a mask, hood, etc. to intimidate, abuse, etc. another person can be charged with a misdemeanor.

Other clown sightings across the country per the Tampa Bay Times:

•Middlesboro, Ky.: Police arrested 20-year-old Jonathan Martin for “causing alarm” after he was seen crouching in the woods wearing a clown suit and mask.

•Greenville, S.C.: Apartment complex and law enforcement get reports of clowns trying to lure children into the woods.

•Greensboro, N.C.: Someone in a scary clown outfit was lurking in a wooded area, then chased back into the area with a bystander wielding a machete.

•Alabama: At least nine clowns have been arrested and most prosecutors are choosing to prosecute them as making terrorist threats.

•Pottsville, Pa.: Two people with clown-like clothes in a pickup truck scared teens and children.

•Ebensburg, Pa. A woman reported a peeping Tom clown look through her window.

•Green Bay, Wis.: An actor claimed someone dressed as scary clown holding black balloons was a marketing ploy for a short horror film.

•Dayton, Ohio: Three reports of clown sightings have come out of the general Dayton area. In Franklin, a woman said she was chased by a clown. In Brookville, police found Halloween masks in the woods after children reported seeing clowns in the woods. In Greenville, a man said he was chased down by two people dressed as clowns with white painted faces.