Clown Pranks Create Havoc in San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX - Since we published our story on the San Angelo Police Department's response to the recent clown sighting phenomenon (see here), things appear to have gotten more out of hand, if possible.

Videos of clowns at night coming towards people recording them continue to plague social media, and have people across the country wondering what is going on. 

For young people, the clowns are both frightening and interesting at the same time. One video that has emerged online shows a group of young men watching a clown walk towards their car. In the video, the young men are talking about how creepy the man is, and there's no way they're going to let the creepy clown "come up on them." They then get out of the vehicle and proceed to throw the clown to the ground and start pummeling him.

Locally, a so-called clown by the name of Johnny Smile's Facebook page (see below) was suggested to a few San Angeloans. He mentioned being at Kirby Park, and when a group of young people saw this, and after learning a clown (possibly this person) had scared a young high school student coming home from work late Tuesday night, this prompted a large group of young people to go chasing after the clown in Kirby Park close to midnight.

Although nothing happened as a result of that chase, many concerned citizens have contacted us. They feel this clown "nonsense" is getting out of hand, especially with Texas being a place where people do carry guns.

Additionally, last night, there were reports of a clown holding some type of weapon and jumping out towards oncoming traffic on Bell Street.

Officer Tracy Gonzalez, public information officer for SAPD, said officers were dispatched to the area of S. Bell and Norma around 7:08 p.m. They searched the area and located the subject in front of a nearby residence.

"The subject, a 16-year-old male, was wearing a clown mask, white shirt with dots, and he was carrying a white plastic machete," said Gonzalez. "The juvenile told the officer he was only trying to play a prank on his neighborhood friends and he did not make any threats towards anyone." 

The officer spoke to the juvenile’s parent and explained why the behavior was not a safe or smart thing to do, especially since the person who called Police Dispatch was “concerned the subject may get shot by accident.”

Previously, SAPD warned of the consequences people who dress like clowns, and those who may attack the clowns, could face.