South Toms River Teen Charged With Creating False Alarm After Telling Police She Was Chased By Knife-Wielding Clown

It was a pretty scary story. Except it wasn't true.

A 14-year-old girl South Toms River girl has been charged with creating a false public alarm after she told her mother she was chased by a knife-wielding clown on her way to her school bus stop this morning, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

The investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s High Tech Crime Unit (HTCU) and the South Toms River police department began this morning they were contacted by concerned residents who spotted a Facebook post with the information.

"The partnering agencies immediately began efforts to substantiate the alarming Facebook post of the alleged attack and to apprehend the reported clown attacker," spokesman Al Della Fave said.

South Toms River Police quickly increased patrols in response to the report, while the High-Tech Crimes Unit worked to locate the origin of the post in order to collect additional information. Within a few hours, the investigation led to the South Toms River juvenile, who recanted her story.

The juvenile was remanded to her parents' custody and will have to answer the charge in Juvenile Court. The parents will have to pay restitution for the cost of police services used while responding to the false public alarm, Della Fave said.

The cost will be be determined at a later date, he said.

Image: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office