clowns

Thursday October 6, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday October 6, 2016 'Monsters in clown costumes': Mystery surrounds terrifying trend It's a phenomenon that's sweeping across North America, from Georgia to Glace Bay, N.S. Mysterious, occasionally armed individuals dressed as terrifying clowns, who are frequentlyÊspotted wandering the streets at night, standing in bizarre locations, or menacing members of the public. There have been no reported injuries stemming from the behaviour, but severalÊincidents have led police to get involved. There have been numerous reports of "creepy clowns" in the U.S. over the last month, and evenÊa few in Canada. In Nova Scotia, for instance, a woman in her car turned down a sideÊstreet to avoid one clown, only to be surrounded by five more who stood and simply stared at her. On Tuesday, a photo of a clown standing beside a Halifax high school wasÊposted toÊInstagram. The accountÕs biography reads, "We stalking you so keep your eyes open. We ain't killing we just creeping.Ó In some cases, police have been called to investigate. Two teenagers are facing charges in connection with allegedly uploading threatening Facebook posts about clowns at schools inÊColchester County, a community north of Halifax. A 17-year-old boy from Stewiacke, N.S. and a 16-year-old girl from Shubenacadie, N.S. are facing mischief charges. In aÊstatementÊreleased Tuesday, Truro Police said Òthere is nothing to indicate that these posts were going to be acted upon.Ó Police have not described details of the posts. In yet another incident in the Maritime province this week, a 24-year-old man was arrested in Clarks Harbor, N.S. on Tuesday after witnesses told police he was walking down the streetÊdressed in a clown mask and t-shirt and allegedly grabbed at the clothing of a young boy. The suspect, who police have not identified, faces charges of breach of undertaking. And back inÊmid-August, Gatineau police let two teens off without charges aft

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 6, 2016

‘Monsters in clown costumes’: Mystery surrounds terrifying trend

It’s a phenomenon that’s sweeping across North America, from Georgia to Glace Bay, N.S. Mysterious, occasionally armed individuals dressed as terrifying clowns, who are frequently spotted wandering the streets at night, standing in bizarre locations, or menacing members of the public. There have been no reported injuries stemming from the behaviour, but several incidents have led police to get involved.

There have been numerous reports of “creepy clowns” in the U.S. over the last month, and even a few in Canada. In Nova Scotia, for instance, a woman in her car turned down a side street to avoid one clown, only to be surrounded by five more who stood and simply stared at her. On Tuesday, a photo of a clown standing beside a Halifax high school was posted to Instagram. The account’s biography reads, “We stalking you so keep your eyes open. We ain’t killing we just creeping.”

In some cases, police have been called to investigate. Two teenagers are facing charges in connection with allegedly uploading threatening Facebook posts about clowns at schools in Colchester County, a community north of Halifax. A 17-year-old boy from Stewiacke, N.S. and a 16-year-old girl from Shubenacadie, N.S. are facing mischief charges. In a statement released Tuesday, Truro Police said “there is nothing to indicate that these posts were going to be acted upon.” Police have not described details of the posts.

In yet another incident in the Maritime province this week, a 24-year-old man was arrested in Clarks Harbor, N.S. on Tuesday after witnesses told police he was walking down the street dressed in a clown mask and t-shirt and allegedly grabbed at the clothing of a young boy. The suspect, who police have not identified, faces charges of breach of undertaking.

And back in mid-August, Gatineau police let two teens off without charges after they were arrested for donning clown costumes and frightening small children.

In the U.S., clowns have been spotted in the woods of South Carolina and North Carolina, near schools in Ohio, Georgia and Long Island, N.Y., and standing outside an apartment complex in Kentucky. The Kentucky case led to the arrest of a 20-year-old, who appears in his arrest photos wearing a clown costume, sans mask. (Source: CTV News)

 

Tuesday December 22, 2015

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday December 22, 2015 De CaireÕs resignation for Mac job surprises police board In a move that shocked many, Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire announced he is leaving policing and taking on a new role as director of security and parking at McMaster University. De Caire gave his bosses at the Hamilton Police Services Board just 15 minutes' notice before he released the news via a two-page letter at 1 p.m. Friday. "All the essential parts are in place," De Caire wrote after several paragraphs describing the accomplishments of the service during his tenure. The news came mere weeks after De Caire pursued and accepted a two-year extension to his controversial term as chief. At a hastily called news conference Friday afternoon, police board chair and city councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he received the chief's resignation "with great surprise and some regret." "The chief and I have worked very well together during my two years as chair," Ferguson said as he praised the changes in budgeting and policing that have taken place during De Caire's tenure. "The singular most impressive program put in place by Chief De Caire is the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team," Ferguson said, referring to a joint police/St. Joseph's hospital initiative that pairs a mental-health worker and constable on daily patrols. Board member Terry Whitehead said Friday afternoon that "we had no idea" the chief was retiring. "The chief maintained that he wanted another four years and wanted to keep the job," he said. "There was no sign that was not sincere." At Friday's news conference, De Caire explained that he had applied for the McMaster job before his board had committed on Nov. 19 to extending his term as chief. "I had no conflict (of interest)." (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6200770-de-caire-s-resignation-for-mac-job-surprises-police-board/ Hamilton, police, services, board, circus, cl

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 22, 2015

De Caire’s resignation for Mac job surprises police board

In a move that shocked many, Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire announced he is leaving policing and taking on a new role as director of security and parking at McMaster University.

Saturday, September 6, 2014De Caire gave his bosses at the Hamilton Police Services Board just 15 minutes’ notice before he released the news via a two-page letter at 1 p.m. Friday.

“All the essential parts are in place,” De Caire wrote after several paragraphs describing the accomplishments of the service during his tenure.

The news came mere weeks after De Caire pursued and accepted a two-year extension to his controversial term as chief.

Wednesday April 17, 2013At a hastily called news conference Friday afternoon, police board chair and city councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he received the chief’s resignation “with great surprise and some regret.”

“The chief and I have worked very well together during my two years as chair,” Ferguson said as he praised the changes in budgeting and policing that have taken place during De Caire’s tenure.

“The singular most impressive program put in place by Chief De Caire is the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team,” Ferguson said, referring to a joint police/St. Joseph’s hospital initiative that pairs a mental-health worker and constable on daily patrols.

Thursday June 12, 2014Board member Terry Whitehead said Friday afternoon that “we had no idea” the chief was retiring.

“The chief maintained that he wanted another four years and wanted to keep the job,” he said. “There was no sign that was not sincere.”

At Friday’s news conference, De Caire explained that he had applied for the McMaster job before his board had committed on Nov. 19 to extending his term as chief. “I had no conflict (of interest).” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)