Valley man arrested for wearing clown mask

Multiple clown sightings have been reported throughout the Shenandoah Valley. At least one person has been arrested so far.

The Front Royal Police Department said 21-year-old Tyrone D.V. Holloman was arrested Sept. 17, 2016. Police had been getting complaints about a person wearing a clown or "scream" mask. Police say Holloman was charged with a Class Six Felony in violation of the Virginia State Statute that prohibits people from wearing masks in certain places.

Officers responded to the area of 424 S. Street in Front Royal for this incident. They say they will be vigorously enforcing any violation of the law regarding masks. They encourage people living in the Valley to report any activity that may violate the following law:

"It shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age while wearing any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons:

(i) wearing traditional holiday costumes

(ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons

(iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball

(iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device.

The violation of any provisions of this section shall constitute a Class 6 felony."

Several other clown sightings have been reported between Winchester, Va. and Augusta County, Va. over the past several days. On Monday night, a local man posted pictures to Facebook of what he stated was a clown he saw in a cornfield near New Market. However, police have not verified any of these other sightings.

This follows other sightings in other states where people dressed as clowns allegedly tried luring children into the woods with the promise of money. Read about other sightings in the related links section of this article.