Sheriff warns of possible clown sightings in county
FORT DEFIANCE - Social media has been abuzz with random clown sightings spanning from South Carolina to Pennsylvania and other areas of the country.
Although sightings in Wisconsin did prove to be a marketing ploy for independent film character Gags the Clown, others like in South Carolina proved to be more frightening where it was reported that a clown was luring children into the woods.
Now, the Augusta County Sheriff's Office has received numerous calls regarding clown sightings in the area starting last week.
On Saturday, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service regarding a clown sighting in the 100 block of River Bend Road in Fort Defiance, a release said. Deputies were dispatched to the area at 9:02 p.m. and were on location at 9:10 p.m., but were unable to locate any one dressed as clowns.
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The call was placed by a man that was in the area fishing with his children, a release said. The man was approached by two separate vehicles leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles stopped to warn him that several people in the adjacent woodland area were dressed up as clowns, the release said. According to the caller, the people leaving the area were pretty upset over the clown sightings, a release said.
According to Investigator Aaron LeVeck with the Augusta County Sheriff's Office, the sheriff's office received another report of a clown sighting around Augusta Farms on Sept. 20.
According to Virginia Code Section 18.2-422, a person over the age of 16 is prohibited from wearing a mask, hood or other device to cover or conceal the identity of the wearer.
A violation of this code section is a Class 6 felony, which is punishable by one to five years of incarceration and a fine of not more than $2,500, according to a release. Either or both may apply if convicted of this offense, Sheriff Donald Smith said.
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“This is a growing problem across the Commonwealth. Please do not engage in this illegal behavior," Smith said in a release. “Dressing as a clown and approaching people can result in someone getting seriously hurt. I strongly recommend not to engage in this behavior and want everyone to be aware of the Virginia law which prohibits this behavior."
There are some exceptions to the code.
Wearing a mask is alright in the following instances, according to the Virginia Code:
- Wearing traditional holiday costumes
- Engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons
- Engaged in any legitimate theatrical production or masquerade ball
- Wearing a mask, hood or other device for legitimate medical reasons
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