Chicago Police investigating after clown chases students, parents on South Side

FOX 32 NEWS - As a group of parents were walking to Earle Elementary School with their children Tuesday morning, they told police that a man dressed as a clown began running towards them. The parents and kids then quickly ran into a nearby school, not Earle, to get away from the clown.

The incident happened in the 6000 block of South Damen at about 8:45 a.m.

Clowns have also been threatening college campuses in Illinois. Eureka College has canceled night classes for Tuesday.

Police in Hammond, Indiana are also investigating threats from clowns levied against children at the city's schools that are being circulated on Facebook.

Five Hammond schools were specifically mentioned in the threats, according to Hammond police Lt. Richard Hoyda. Those are Hammond, Eggers, Gavit, Scott and Morton.

Hoyda said the police department is "taking the information seriously."

Clown threats have been happening more recently across the nation.