WSLS 10 Staff
Tags: Virginia, News
Police: 2 in custody for wearing clown masks and chasing children
By WRIC Newsroom – HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Two teenagers are in custody in Henrico County for allegedly wearing clown masks and chasing children Wednesday morning. It happened just blocks from Varina High School.
Officers were called to the 1600 block of New Market Road shortly before 9 a.m. for reports of two clown-masked individuals chasing children. A witness at the scene provided a description of the vehicle the two suspects were driving. Officers were able to locate the vehicle and identify the two occupants.
One of them, 18-year-old Kevin Marquis Craddock, II, was charged with wearing a mask in public and assault. A 17-year-old juvenile was referred to juvenile intake for consideration of the same charges.
Extra officers were at Varina High School all day Wednesday just as a precaution.
While it seems like the clown sightings are all people are talking about, not everyone considers them a serious threat.
"It seems to be much ado about nothing," parent David Trueman told 8News. "The schools have been pretty forthcoming with the efforts they've been taking to make sure the kids are safe."
Trueman's daughter, Caroline, goes to Varina High School and she said everyone has different opinions about the clowns.
"I think some people are really scared about having the threat," she said. "Nobody wants a crazy clown person chasing after you, but then other people think it's a joke."
D. Trueman said while he understands the increased response for safety reasons, he is ready for these distractions to go away.
"I hate for them to have to be spending so much resources to have to deal with a bunch of kids and pranks," he explained.
D. Trueman joked that teens in the area might not listen to what a parent like him has to say, but he hopes kids can learn from Wednesday's arrest.
"Look at all the attention that's coming your way and don't do it,"Trueman said. "It's not worth the hassle with the police and the school. Just think twice."
Henrico police wants the public to know that wearing a mask in public is considered illegal.