Dressing up as clown illegal if you harass or intimidate public, say Airdrie RCMP

While it's not illegal to dress up in costume, Airdre RCMPare remindinganyone thinking of smearingpancake makeup on their faceto remember to only do it in "good fun."

"It's kind ofthe season for pranks, we want to make sure everybody's safe and that we're not intimidating and harassing the public," Cst. Jennifer Weedmark told CBC news.

She said anyone who does that could face criminal code charges,including mischief, causing a disturbance or uttering threats.

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In recent weeks,Airdrie police have responded to about 10 calls involvingsuspicious people dressed up as creepy clowns, but don't yet know if the incidents are related.

Clown sightingshave been flooding into police agencies across North America,including Alberta, since the summer.

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Earlier this month, complaints about ateen dressed as a scary red-haired clown promptedFort Saskatchewan, Alta., RCMP to issue a press release. That incident was followed bya lockdown at anEdmonton high schoolafter an alleged threat was made online by someone who used the name YEG Clown.