A social media trend involving prankster clowns is causing an uproar locally.

While there have been no official reports to Timmins Police as of Tuesday morning, Communications Officer Marc Depatie says if you do see one and feel threatened in any way, you can contact police.

“Person’s who are wearing disguises, if they’re up to any criminal activity, obviously, there’s a criminal component there that the police would like to be made aware of so that we can stem the tide and obviously, take appropriate law enforcement action where it’s warranted,” he said.

Police are viewing this for the most part as a joke that has gone entirely too far.

“If you’re going to scare people with the intent of causing them some sort of mortal dread, then obviously you’ve taken this a little bit too far,” Depatie added.

On top of the general public, there are those with a phobia of clowns, known as ‘coulrophobia’.

Depatie says “we wouldn’t want those persons to be subjected to any undue stress or aggravation as well.”

DARE officer Rick Lemieux also says through Facebook that some students are scared and keep asking questions.

He notes that chances are, the only ones that could get hurt are the ones dressing as clowns and scaring the wrong people.

With Halloween three weeks away, Depatie says there will be those dressed up at parties or trick-or-treating and don’t need that police presence.  But the same rule applies, if you feel intimidated or threatened, call police.

Depatie adds anyone that has the idea to dress up as a clown to be “conscious of the fact that they’re not allowed to intimidate people or cause them undue stress or aggravation.”

Filed under: Local News