BAKERSFIELD, CA - What started as a Wasco photographer having a little fun in the Halloween spirit, has evolved into nationwide reports of a murderous clown terrorizing Bakersfield. Local law enforcement says that's just not the case.
The Wasco clown has created a lot of buzz on social media over the last week or so. Now copy-clowns are popping up. From Wasco to Bakersfield, Twitter and Instagram, rumors of clowns invading Kern County are going viral.
It started with a husband and wife's photography project, and has gotten exaggerated into headlines like this, "Murderous Death-Clowns Stalk Southern California."
All this clowning around is making for some interesting stories. Anthony Garza says he saw three clowns in Wasco. He said, "He just chased her and then she was like gone, but she was scared."
Wednesday afternoon, there was a report of a clown chasing kids near Golden Valley High School. The principal Paul Helman says police didn't find any evidence of a clown on campus.
Kern County Sheriff's officials say they have received a lot of these types of reports, but they are all unfounded.
"I believe right now it's going to be juvenile antics, but I haven't seen anything else come through," said Sheriff's deputy Ian Chandler.
Sheriff's officials say they have not located any clowns, nor have they identified any victims of crimes committed by clowns.
Law enforcement officials say they expect clown calls will increase as it gets closer to Halloween. They say the reports have all been pranks, but they will investigate any criminal activity that's reported.
The Wasco clown has created a lot of buzz on social media over the last week or so. Now copy-clowns are popping up. From Wasco to Bakersfield, Twitter and Instagram, rumors of clowns invading Kern County are going viral.
It started with a husband and wife's photography project, and has gotten exaggerated into headlines like this, "Murderous Death-Clowns Stalk Southern California."
All this clowning around is making for some interesting stories. Anthony Garza says he saw three clowns in Wasco. He said, "He just chased her and then she was like gone, but she was scared."
Wednesday afternoon, there was a report of a clown chasing kids near Golden Valley High School. The principal Paul Helman says police didn't find any evidence of a clown on campus.
Kern County Sheriff's officials say they have received a lot of these types of reports, but they are all unfounded.
"I believe right now it's going to be juvenile antics, but I haven't seen anything else come through," said Sheriff's deputy Ian Chandler.
Sheriff's officials say they have not located any clowns, nor have they identified any victims of crimes committed by clowns.
Law enforcement officials say they expect clown calls will increase as it gets closer to Halloween. They say the reports have all been pranks, but they will investigate any criminal activity that's reported.