No clown threats at South Sound schools; Wenatchee pep assembly canceled

Threats were reported at multiple South Sound schools on Tuesday, some on social media, but none of the threats stemmed from clown sightings, according to authorities.

However, Wenatchee Public Schools canceled a homecoming pep assembly Friday and changed the homecoming football game Friday because of threats in a girls’ restroom last week and “recent threats nation-wide from ‘scary clowns,'” a district e-mail read.

Here’s what we know about the threats

Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High: Classes are canceled while police investigate a threat made over the internet.

Parents and students are asked to watch the Emerald Ridge and Glacier View school websites for updates.

Deputies announced later on Tuesday afternoon that they found masks on a trail near Emerald Ridge High School, but did not say it was related to the closures.Deputies later said the masks were found near Rogers High Schoool, not Emerald Ridge.

Clown masks found by deputies on trail at Rogers HS. Not related to lockdown at Rogers HS. #PCSDpic.twitter.com/mdW8zOnTOr

— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) October 4, 2016

Rogers High School: To be cautious, the Puyallup School District placed Rogers High School in a modified lockdown during lunch time on Tuesday.

>> Related: What authorities say about the clown sightings in Washington

Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokesman told KIRO 7 News saying this modified lockdown during lunch had nothing to do with clowns.

The Puyallup School District said it received a report of clowns in woods nearby. A school resource officer and two other deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department searched a wooded park near Rogers High School known as Chapman Trail.

The Puyallup School District chose to place RHS in a modified lockdown during lunchtime. Law enforcement will continue to investigate allegations.

A modified lockdown means that movement is restricted to the high school campus.

Tahoma High School: Tahoma High School and district officials reported seeing social media posts connected to clowns and violence Monday night, and were investigating them in conjunction with police.

A school resource officer was on campus when a staff member spotted a student before school wearing a clown mask in a car in the parking lot.

A school resource officer determined that the student had no weapon
and there was no threat.

The district temporarily held buses from coming to campus or dropping off students for a few minutes until it determined that there was no threat. The school said the student with the clown mask will be disciplined.

What law enforcement says

The reports of clowns near schools comes after sightings of clowns were reported around the Puget Sound region.

Across the nation, creepy clown sightings were reported in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and now Washington state.

>> Related: How did the nationwide scare start?

KIRO 7 News asked the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office if any of the sightings will be investigated as harassment.

A Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokesman told the Tacoma News Tribune that “it’s not illegal to be a clown.” And while detectives are keeping an eye on the reports, they are not investigating them.

“They’re probably jumping on the bandwagon of what’s been going on around the country,” said sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer.

In other states, people have been arrested for making false reports of clown threats or chasing people while wearing costumes.

Homecoming game moved, pep assembly canceled in Wenatchee

This is the text sent of an email sent Tuesday morning by Wenatchee Public Schools:

In light of the written threats discovered in girls’ restrooms last week, coupled with recent threats nation-wide from “scary clowns,” school district officials are changing homecoming events. The homecoming football game will be moved to Thursday and the homecoming pep assembly on Friday will be cancelled. School District officials are evaluating whether school will be held on Friday October 7th, and will communicate the decision to students, parents and community as soon as it is made.

Other homecoming activities will continue this week with heightened security. In addition to armed security, procedures will be tightened for all homecoming events. No personal backpacks, bags, food, or drink will be allowed by anyone attending the events.

“Safety comes first, and we want to make sure that all students, staff, family and community are considered when we have situations like this,” says Mark Helm, Executive Director of Student Services.

Threatening messages were discovered last week at Wenatchee High School in a girls’ restroom referring to October 7th. The Wenatchee Police Department was contacted and an investigation began. Police were contacted again when another message was discovered in a girls’ restroom at Foothills Middle School. Police believe it to be a “copycat” message.

Today, local area students are reporting receiving social media messages from an individual using the images of a scary clown. These messages are vague, but refer to coming to school on October 7.

Captain Edgar Reinfeld of the Wenatchee Police Department has informed District Officials that this is a nationwide trend with similar incidences occurring in Houston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Wichita, and other parts of the country. Police are confident that these messages have nothing to do with the recent threats made at Wenatchee High School.

Police investigation of all messages is ongoing, in full cooperation with Wenatchee School District officials. The safety of our students and school communities is the district’s top priority.

Football games will be held Thursday, October 6. Information on times and locations will be forthcoming. Homecoming pep assembly is cancelled.

Police ask that anyone with information contact the Wenatchee Police Department through Rivercom at (509) 663-9911.