Watch: Mother: 9-year-old ‘traumatized’ by clown encounter
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Lexington, S.C. (WOLO) — Residents at Park North Apartments have been on high alert since Monday afternoon.
Three children say they spotted individuals dressed as a clown and a bear in the complex.
Shakieya Corbitt says her 9 year old daughter was one of the three who encountered the costumed individuals.
She recounts her daughter’s account of the incident, “A guy got out with a clown thing on and asked them to come try and get in the car with them.”
Corbitt says her daughter is traumatized by the incident, but her own personal concerns extend far beyond consoling her 9 year old.
She tells ABC Columbia, “Our children should be able to be home and be safe and right now they’re not safe.”
Corporal Cameron Mortenson with the Lexington Police department says there are discrepancies in witness accounts of the incident.
Regardless, the agency is taking an active approach.
As authorities continue investigating, the department has increased patrols in the area and officers on stand by during bus drop off and pick up times.
Still, Mortenson encourages parents and children to always be vigilant.
He says, “When you’re at the play ground if you don’t have a parent around look around you, is there anyone who you don’t recognize from your apartment complex there? That’s a great time to go back home.”
“I told them they can’t be outside like they used to I have to be out there with them or I’m just going to have to let them come in the house find something to do in the house until I feel like we’re going to be safe,” says the mother.
