Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Police: So Far, Only “Clowns” In Park Forest Are Those Making False Reports

clowns in United Kingdom 2013
A clown in the United Kingdom in 2013. (Screenshot)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Park Forest police issued a statement on their Facebook page regarding the nationwide reports of clowns. The department reported “connected to clown incidents” on Tuesday, October 4. According to the statement, all reports on October 4 were found to be unsubstantiated, several cases were second-hand reports, and “in one instance a child admitted to fabricating a story.”

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The statement follows:

Yesterday, 10/4/16, the Park Forest Police Department responded to several calls of service connected to clown incidents, each of which were found to be unsubstantiated. Several cases were second hand reports, and in one instance a child admitted to fabricating a story.

The clown phenomenon is affecting communities across the country, and while the vast majority of incidents turn out to be either pranks or completely fabricated, the law enforcement resources being spent investigating these matters are very real, and could result in the arrest of the person making the false report.

The social phenomenon concerning clowns has the ability to cross the line into illegal actions, both through the false reporting of an incident or by acting in a certain manner.

Under Illinois law, Disorderly Conduct is defined, in part, as:

(a) A person commits disorderly conduct when he or she knowingly:
(1) Does any act in such unreasonable manner as to
alarm or disturb another and to provoke a breach of the peace;

(3.5) Transmits or causes to be transmitted a threat
of destruction of a school building or school property, or a threat of violence, death, or bodily harm directed against persons at a school, school function, or school event, whether or not school is in session;
(4) Transmits or causes to be transmitted in any manner to any peace officer, public officer or public employee a report to the effect that an offense will be committed, is being committed, or has been committed, knowing at the time of the transmission that there is no reasonable ground for believing that the offense will be committed, is being committed, or has been committed;
(5) Transmits or causes to be transmitted a false report to any public safety agency without the reasonable grounds necessary to believe that transmitting the report is necessary for the safety and welfare of the public;

We ask that parents speak with their children both about the seriousness of making false reports and the dangers of crossing over into illegal activity by participating in the clown craze. We understand that much of it is intended to be good fun, especially at the time of year dedicated to all things spooky, but it also has the ability to result in a breach of peace, trespassing, assault, or other offenses. Our goal is to keep Park Forest safe and keep our young people out of trouble, so please help by having those conversations at home.

The Park Forest Police Department takes all reports of criminal activity seriously, and investigates them to the fullest extent resources allow.

Source: PFPD on Facebook

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