Dressing up as clown illegal if you harass or intimidate public, say Airdrie RCMP
Influx of 911 calls involving suspicious people dressed in creepy costumes
While it's not illegal to dress up in costume, Airdre RCMP are reminding anyone thinking of smearing pancake makeup on their face to remember to only do it in "good fun."
"It's kind of the season for pranks, we want to make sure everybody's safe and that we're not intimidating and harassing the public," Cst. Jennifer Weedmark told CBC news.
She said anyone who does that could face criminal code charges, including mischief, causing a disturbance or uttering threats.
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In recent weeks, Airdrie police have responded to about 10 calls involving suspicious people dressed up as creepy clowns, but don't yet know if the incidents are related.
Clown sightings have been flooding into police agencies across North America, including Alberta, since the summer.
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Earlier this month, complaints about a teen dressed as a scary red-haired clown prompted Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., RCMP to issue a press release. That incident was followed by a lockdown at an Edmonton high school after an alleged threat was made online by someone who used the name YEG Clown.