A national trend of “creepy clowns” approaching people to intimidate and threaten has reached the suburbs of Chicago. “Creepy clown” sightings were reported at schools in both Highland Park and Waukegan in recent days, and rumors of creepy clown activities are spreading throughout many North Shore high schools and elementary schools. Here’s what DailyNorthShore.com has learned from authoritative sources as of dinnertime Oct. 5:
On Oct. 5 at 3:35 p.m. North Shore School District Superintendent Michael Bregy emailed a letter to families and staff stating the following:
Dear District 112 Families and Staff,
You may have heard news reports about “creepy clown” sightings across the country, and recently in nearby school districts. This afternoon at approximately 1 p.m., the Highland Park Police were notified that a student from Elm Place School saw a man exiting a white vehicle wearing a mask. He was reported to be taking photographs of students at recess at Indian Trail School while both Indian Trail and Elm Place students were outside. Adult supervisors were outside with the students and did not see the suspicious person or receive the initial report. As soon as the incident was reported, Highland Park Police were contacted, and began the investigation.
The District is working closely with the Highland Park Police Department to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Police responded promptly to the school and searched the surrounding areas for the described vehicle without result. Video was reviewed and it was learned that at no time was a suspicious vehicle parked in the spot where the students reported. At this time, it appears that there was no threat to students at either school. The District closely monitors visitors to our buildings and staff keeps a close watch around the buildings during recess, outdoor gym time, and during arrival and dismissal.
We ask for your help in keeping our community safe and in helping children who are concerned or anxious. If you see any suspicious activity, report it to the Highland Park Police Department or to your building principal. Reinforce digital citizenship lessons with your children (i.e., do not “friend” or communicate with strangers at any time online or through text messaging, and share messages of concern with an adult). Finally, reassure your children that our related service teams, including social workers, and psychologists, are available to all students at any time.
We will continue to monitor media reports to understand concerns in nearby communities, and will be in close contact with the Highland Park Police Department.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Bregy
Superintendent of Schools
In Waukegan, three people dressed up as clowns acted in a threatening way to children at Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan, causing administrators to lock down the school, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. “These incidents are being driven by nationwide stories in the media and committed by copycats,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. It went on to state that it is not illegal to dress up as a clown, but if someone in a “clown suit” disrupts school activities or causes people to become alarmed and concerned the action rises to a criminal level known as disorderly conduct.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Greenwood Elementary students who reported the clown sightings said one of the three clowns had a knife, another a brief case and another had what they believed looked like a gun in a pocket — though that was not confirmed. Quoting a Waukegan police official, the Tribune article reported the students said the “clowns threatened to return Friday to kill them,” and drove away in a black SUV. Visit the Tribune to read the full report.