Bogus clown sighting claim lands Winston-Salem man in jail

A bogus clown sighting claim in Winston-Salem led to the arrest of a 24-year-old man on Friday.

Winston-Salem police charged David Wayne Armstrong with filing a false police report related to one of several clown sightings police have investigated recently.

Armstrong was jailed on $500 bail and has a Forsythe County court appearance on Monday.

Police were doing extra patrols in a Winston-Salem neighborhood this week after two children reported seeing a clown trying to lure kids into the woods with treats on Sunday night. Police said two children said they saw the clown, and one adult reported hearing the clown.

On Friday, police said they investigated all recent clown sighting claims and none could be substantiated.

Police urged anyone with information in the cases to call them at 336-773-7700.

After investigating two fake clown sighting claims at schools, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office this week warned that anyone filing a false clown sighting report could be arrested.

“We realize that fear regarding incidents involving clowns in South Carolina has spread and, unfortunately some are using it to play pranks,” the office said. “To many this is not a joking matter. Baseless and false reports take away from the Sheriff’s Office resources and ability to work other criminal investigations.”

In Greenville County, S.C., deputies increased patrols recently after getting new reports of people dressed as clowns trying to lure children into woods.

This story was originally published September 9, 2016 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Bogus clown sighting claim lands Winston-Salem man in jail."