Law enforcement experts say it's a creepy clown's conduct, not the outfit, that'll lead to charges. Watch video
The spate of clown hysteria over recent sightings and social media threats in the Garden State has led to many wondering when police can arrest creepy copycat clowns.
Several children and teens have been busted over the past few weeks for clown-related threats on social media but there have been only been a handful of individuals arrested while wearing clown masks -- and those latter arrests haven't been the result of attire but usually for outstanding warrants or drug possession.
Law enforcement officials told NJ Advance Media the individual circumstances of the incident -- not the fact that a person is dressed up as a clown -- are what will prompt police to pursue charges.
"It's all about context and the conduct that the person engages in," Sussex County First Assistant Prosector Greg Mueller said. "As creepy as it may be, just dressing as a clown, even in a way that might strike many folks as menacing, is not an offense in and of itself."
Several recent clown-related incidents in New Jersey and Pennsylvania include:
- A 41-year-old man was arrested on outstanding warrants in North Plainfield after he allegedly frightened children walking home from school.
- A truck filled with teenagers -- two of whom had clown masks -- was pulled over on Wednesday after they allegedly followed and frightened a woman driver and her passenger for at least 20 miles. The front seat passenger was arrested on a marijuana possession charge and the teen driver was cited for reckless driving.
- A juvenile who allegedly menaced two people at a QuickChek in Parsippany but was not charged criminally.
- A juvenile in Cinnaminson who was apprehended after allegedly terrorizing a bus loaded with students.
- An 11-year-old girl who allegedly threatened a girl in Lower Township with text messages featuring a clown's face.
- A 12-year-old student was charged for allegedly making a clown threat targeting Toms River Intermediate East Middle School.
- A 15-year-old student was accused of making a social media post that referenced clowns and was directed at Steinert High School in Hamilton.
- A 12-year-old in Bensalem, Pa., who allegedly made threats on social media under the online moniker of Bensalem Clowns.
Mueller said the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office wasn't aware of any credible threats posed by people dressed as clowns, but he also indicated charges could likely filed against individuals who try calling a child over to a secluded area.
"With little exception, people can present themselves as they want," Mueller said. "If they want to dress as a creepy clown, Aqua Man or the Lone Ranger, it is typically not an issue for law enforcement. We are, however, very concerned with conduct. If anyone threatens another, attempts to harm someone or attempts to lure a child they will receive the full attention of law enforcement -- regardless of costume."
Mueller added he was concerned that someone with "an evil intent" could dress up as a clown and use it as "a cover."
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said only one incident had occurred in Morris County when a juvenile dressed in a clown mask menaced two people but the boy wasn't charged in that case.
Knapp said only one other case has come to his attention -- an apparent threat on social media. That threat, however, turned out to be unfounded as it was actually targeted at a town in another state with the same name as a Morris County town, he said.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.