Man in clown mask arrested for menacing at Portland middle school
Man in clown mask arrested for menacing at Portland middle school : Whether it’s related to national clown panic or just an unhappy coincidence, a clown in boxing gloves — technically a man in a clown mask — was arrested Thursday morning after menacing students and then charging the assistant principal at Floyd Light Middle School, police said.
In a press release from Portland Police Bureau, police said that 55-year-old David Dahlman was arrested and then booked on charges of Menacing Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.
According to officers who responded to the incident, Dahlman “walked his grandkids to the school bus stop wearing the outfit before creating the disorder outside the middle school.”
Even though Dahlman’s attack was technically “clown violence,” police said, “the threat of clown violence has largely been driven by social media reports rather than actual incidents.”
The middle school menacing attack comes just one day after Portland Public Schools sent out an email to parents which said the Portland Police Bureau has “not received information to suggest that there is a credible threat in Portland, but are emphasizing that criminal activity or actual threats should be reported to 9-1-1.”
The David Douglas School District, where Floyd Light is located, posted a similar message on Facebook, saying, “Our administrators and Portland Police are aware of these concerns, and police have assured us that there is no credible threat.”
Dan McCue spokesperson for the David Douglas School District, said over the phone Thursday that an email will be sent out to parents Thursday that addresses the incident and also “attempts to pivot the message from clown alert to if you hear of anyone who thinks it’s a funny prank to dress up as a clown, it could be dangerous for them.”
On Wednesday we spoke with Diane Popp, a child and family therapist in the Willamette Valley, who said that clown panic is causing an increase in anxiety in children and teens. Popp suggested talking to kids about what’s happening and giving them accurate facts.
Source : http://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2016/10/man_in_clown_mask_arrested_for.html
