A 16-year-old student has been arrested for making clown threats online against schools in northwest Indiana.
A Hammond High School student was identified as using a clown persona to issue threats of bodily harm against other students in Hammond and in Utah, according to Hammond Police Lt. Richard Hoyda.
The threats were posted as a clown persona named “Izzy Woods,” who made threats against students at Hammond High, Eggers Middle School and Gavit High, all in Hammond; and Clearfield High School in Clearfield, Utah, Hoyda said.
As a result of the threats, police investigators have been monitoring internet usage at various locations on city school properties.
The threats were traced to the student’s school-issued Chromebook laptop, Hoyda said. The student was called into the principal’s office and asked to surrender the laptop, and it was confirmed the threats came from that computer.
The student was arrested for intimidation and the case was referred to the Lake County (Indiana) Juvenile Court.
“Finally, the Hammond Police Department does not have any specific credible information that any student in the Hammond school system is currently in danger from any known Facebook clown threats,” Hoyda said.
But off-duty officers working at northwest Indiana schools remain on the lookout for any suspicious circumstances, he added.
Anyone with information about clown threats is asked to call police at (219) 852-6326.
