The Kalispell Police Department is asking residents to disregard rumors of “creepy clowns” threatening local students and schools. 

According to a press release issued Thursday, school resource officers have received reports about threatening clowns from students and through social media. Officers reportedly investigated the reports and “found no credible evidence that any such threat exists.”

“There have been no reports made to our dispatch center,” Kalispell Police Captain Wade Rademacher told the Inter Lake. “Some kids are hearing about it in the schools and they’re asking about it. It’s just one of those national trends that started somewhere else and slowly works this way.”

Rademacher said a woman did call the department to report a clown sighting at Woodland Park, but Rademacher said he believes the report was a rumor and added there haven’t been any clown reports to the Flathead County 911 Center.

Rademacher also said while the clown hysteria is now nationwide, he’s yet to uncover any actual violent clown encounters.

“I don’t think there have been any violent acts, to my knowledge, committed [by clowns] anywhere in the country,” he said. “I think it’s something kids are running with with stories. To me, it’s just hysteria; just kids thinking it’s a fun thing to do to scare and intimidate other people. Do I think a clown is going to show up and start threatening people? No. But I’m sure some stories will pop up of that type of thing.”

The Missoulian on Thursday reported that Missoula school resource officers are monitoring high schools after a threat was made over Facebook regarding clowns. The threat read, “Us klowns will be at all Missoula high schools on Friday night to kidnap and kill some students be ready Missoula.”

The Kalispell Police statement also warns against violence from either side — the clowns and anyone who might engage with them. 

“We advise those who may choose to exploit this viral social media trend by donning a clown costume in public to rethink their decision as they could become a victim of violence, If anyone attacks or hurts anyone merely because of their attire, they will be subjected to criminal investigation.”

Rademacher added that threats, intimidation or false clown reports could be met with criminal charges. 

“Any time someone is threatened or tries to intimidate someone we do take that seriously,” Rademacher said. “Anybody who knowingly makes up a story can be charged and prosecuted. We would certainly look into that if anyone knowingly makes a false report.”

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.