'An immature decision': Scary Fort Saskatchewan clown turns out to be 15-year-old boy
Mack Lamoureux | CBC News | Posted: October 6, 2016 7:13 PM | Last Updated: October 6, 2016
RCMP believe sightings are part of fad originating in U.S.
A 15-year-old boy turned himself in to Fort Saskatchewan RCMP on Thursday for being the person wearing a clown mask and "hanging out" in Fort Saskatchewan, prompting complaints to police.
The boy, accompanied by his mother, arrived at the detachment several hours after RCMP issued a release to assure the public that a clown spotted in the city on Wednesday night posed no threat.
"The youth was very apologetic and did not realize this much attention would be drawn from the wearing of the mask. Police spoke to this youth and informed him of the potential dangers of his actions," Cpl. Jennifer Brown said in a news release.
Two complaints
Police said they responded to two complaints Wednesday night about a person dressed as a clown in the city, located northeast of Edmonton.
- Creepy clown sightings set off hysteria across North America
- Creepy clown phenomenon stretches from Cape Breton to southern U.S.
- Creepy clown prank comes to Sudbury: police tell 3 youths it's not so funny
The first was a report about a clown spotted at the spray park around 8:30 p.m.
RCMP said it appeared the clown was not engaging in criminal activity, but merely "hanging out."
A second call around 9:30 p.m. reported a person in the passenger seat of a newer model, black Ford F-150 wearing a white clown mask with red hair.
"The clown stuck his or her head out the window of the truck, waved, and then the truck sped off," police said in news release. The driver cut off the complainant as he or she drove away.
Police responded but were unable to find the truck.
The youth will not be facing charges as he "did not commit any criminal offences, it was an immature decision he made, and he understands that now," Brown wrote in the release.
She called the "clown fad" something that has been getting increasing attention.
"I have read comments on social media sites where people are indicating they will run a clown over if they see one.
"We just don't want anyone to get hurt....the person dressed as a clown, or the public"
RCMP believe the sightings were part of a fad originating in the U.S. and now making its way into Canada, where people dress up as a clown and make a video to post on social media.