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Dutchess Sheriff: 'Creepy Clown' Threat Against High School Made By Student

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- An Arlington High School teenager and a 23-year-old brother of an Arlington student were identified Thursday as suspects in a "creepy clown" threat against the high school, according ot the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.

The "Creepy Clown" crazy is making the rounds throughout the area.

The "Creepy Clown" crazy is making the rounds throughout the area.

Photo Credit: www.flickr.com

A Sheriff''s Office spokesman said an investigation into suspicious social media postings referencing Arlington High School by people posing as clowns resulted in no harm to anyone. The offenders have been identified, and at this time the students are safe and there appears to be no credible threat to Arlington High School or any other school.

On Wednesday evening, the Sheriff’s Office became aware of two separate social media postings – one on Instagram and the other on Twitter – which referenced Arlington High, The postings both pictured someone in a clown mask, according to Capt. John Watterson, a Sheriff's Office spokesman. 

Neither Internet post directly threatened the high school, but insinuated that there may be a problem there on Thursday, Watterson said. 

The Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau then was able to identify two people responsible for the postings: a teenage female

Arlington student and the 23-year-old brother of a different Arlington student. 

Watterson said the Sheriff’s Office is working with the Arlington Central School District, and the investigation is continuing. Criminal charges are being considered, Watterson said, but none have been filed, "and at this time there appears to be no credible threat to the high school.

As stated in a previous press release, the vast majority of “creepy clown” incidents are pranks fueled by the Internet and social media, and this incident is the latest example of that, Watterson said, adding: "Let today’s incident also serve as an example to those wishing to play these pranks that they will be fully investigated, identified and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.  Law enforcement doesn’t consider these pranks to be funny jokes, and will utilize every resource at its disposal to identify those responsible and hold them accountable."

Recently, people in clown costumes committing illegal or suspicious acts have been reported in numerous places throughout the country, Watterson said.

Daily Voice articles on other fake clown threats this week in the Hudson Valley can found by clicking here, as well as here and here.

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