Are creepy clowns prowling East Bay?

Rumors swirling across the country have landed in Bristol, and authorities are taking notice

EastBayRI.com ·

Creepy clowns are stalking the streets at night, attempting to lure small children into the woods and terrorizing unsuspecting Bristolians.

Or so the rumor mill would have you believe.

Fueled by social media, overactive imaginations — or perhaps a viral marketing campaign for the remake of Stephen King’s “It” due out next year — rumors of clowns running amok, threatening passers-by and attempting to kidnap young children have been flying all over the country. And now Bristol is no exception.

A local Facebook user posted a photo earlier this week purporting to show a clown being arrested Monday night by two Bristol Police officers near Town Common. Bristol Police Captain Brian Burke was surprised to be asked about the incident, which did not show up in any arrest log or dispatch report from the previous night. 

Further investigation revealed the grainy photo, taken at distance so the officers’ uniforms were not clear, was actually snapped in a town in New York and posted in Bristol as a hoax. “There was no clown arrested,” Capt. Burke said, admittedly trying to stifle a laugh at the question.

But the facts haven’t gotten in the way of a good story. People around the East Bay have been breathlessly telling of terrifying encounters a friend of a friend had with a creepy clown. Some local students have said clowns are hiding in the woods near schools, clowns are scaring people in nearby Swansea, Mass., and clowns are trying to lure children away from their homes. One middle school student said clowns on the East Bay Bikepath are trying to kidnap children.

While there has been no basis for the rumors, some local school districts are taking notice, and taking preventive action, including involving police. Bristol Warren Superintendent Mario Andrade posted a message on the school district’s Facebook page acknowledging rumors of clowns in the community and a “threat” that several would be wreaking havoc on Friday.

“Please be advised that the District is aware of rumors circulating through social media and in the school community regarding the threat of "clowns" causing chaos on Friday,” the message reads. “The District has been in contact with both the Bristol and Warren Police Departments and we have been informed that there is no credible evidence to support these rumors. However, we will continue to monitor these rumors in the coming days."

Some of the chaos was rumored to be happening at Mt. Hope High School on Friday. Several students are reportedly planning to embrace the hysteria and go to school dressed as clowns on Friday. At least they were. Principal Deb DiBiase made it clear such actions would face consequences.

“There’s no credible evidence, but some kids are actually nervous,” Dr. DiBiase said Thursday. “I made an announcement at the end of school, in case anyone gets any ideas about dressing up as clowns, that is something that would not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

A fear of clowns — and the hysteria surrounding them — is nothing new. And the terror is not restricted to children. As many as 12 percent of Americans suffer from Coulrophobia, according to the website, coulrophobiafacts.com

The phobia can cause a state of panic, difficulty in breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea and feelings of fear,” the website reads.

Apparently, it can also cause a propensity to relay stories that might not be based in fact. Many would agree that clowns in general are downright creepy, but most acknowledge that there aren’t actually evil clowns prowling Bristol’s streets.

At least not yet.

Clowns, creepy clowns, Bristol Warren Regional School District