Clown sightings pose unique set of concerns

HALFMOON >> A local law enforcement press release on suspicious clown sightings in the southern part of Saratoga County has the area’s professional clowns asking the public to take a step back.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department put out a press release on the sightings at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday based on two complaints it had received in the past few days.

On Monday evening a caller to the sheriff’s office claimed to have seen a “suspicious person” dressed as a clown at an apartment complex in southern Clifton Park. The press released

noted the caller said they had seen the clown earlier in the evening in the same area.

At 7 a.m. Wednesday the sheriff’s department received a complaint from a person concerned with a person dressed as a clown and standing in front of a Halfmoon apartment complex.

That call proved erroneous when it was determined the call stemmed from a photograph circulating on social media of a clown interacting with children. The sheriff’s department later determined, after hearing from the person who was dressed in the clown costume, that the photo was taken with the parents’ consent. In neither case was it determined that a crime had been committed.

After posting the press release to the sheriff’s department’s Facebook page, the notice drew 12 replies with 58 shares. Several of the replies questioned when it was that dressing as a clown had become illegal.

Christa Batchelder replied to the post that indeed, it is not illegal, but with a report from North Carolina that people dressed as clowns were attempting to lure children into a wooded area, it was better to be safe.

“They are probably just warning us aware that there’s a copy-cat or that the jerks have moved here,” she wrote.

Clifton Park Councilwoman Lynda Walowit relied to the post reminding all readers that the area has a professional clown group, the Electric City Clown Alley that visits nursing homes.

In fact, there are two groups of professional clowns in the area. Barbara Bird (aka Sparky and Dr. Nose-A-Lot), of Clifton Park belongs to both.

“I personally haven’t had any problems,” Bird said Thursday, “but the fact that it wants to go viral is scary.”

Bird belongs to the Electric City group and Clowns On Rounds, a group formed. The latter group visits area hospitals like the VA Hospital, the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center, Ellis Medicine’s multiple facilities, Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center and the Glens Falls Hospital.

“With Clowns On Rounds I wear a lab coat over my clown costume with our group’s name on the back and I can tell you I get a lot of hugs when I make my rounds,” Bird said. “I think we’re the only clown group in the country where we are actually employees of the hospitals.”

Elaine Person is the executive director of Clowns On Rounds and also is the sergeant at arms for the Electric City Clown Alley. Though she has cut back on her clowning she wants the community to know the two groups do many good things and have quality people.

“Several of our folks were International Clowns of the Year,” Person said. “One of our clowns, Dr. Skittles, was a veterinarian who closed her business and does clowning full-time now. She performs with her dog Lucky, who only has one eye. They love him at the VA because in a lot of cases he’s just like them.”

Person said Clowns On Rounds has seven clowns that go to area hospitals while Electric City Clown Alley has 35 members, 15 of whom are active.

As she surfed the Internet she came across the local story of the clown reports from the two Saratoga County towns and saw the photograph.

“It’s an independent,” she said of the clown in the photo. “It’s a creepy clown. There’s not a lot you can do. People can out and rent a clown costume or buy one at a store.”

Bird wanted to let everyone know she has an appointment as Dr. Nose-ALot in Glens Falls Hospital on Friday.

“I put my clown costume on at home before I head up the Northway,” she said. “I don’t wear much makeup when I’m in the hospitals but I’ll have the costume on. I put the white lab coat on in the parking lot to keep the creases sharp. The hardest part when you’re driving is everyone wants you to roll down your window and talk.”