Police officer suspended after dressing up as clown

WHITE HALL, Ark. — A police officer in White Hall, Arkansas, is facing disciplinary action after a photo of him dressed as a clown surfaced on the internet.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that White Hall Police Department Officer Dustin Summers, 28, posed for the photo Sept. 20.

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KATV reported that Summers, a school resource officer with the White Hall School District, took a photo dressed as a clown at a family gathering in his parent's home and posted it on social media.

White Hall police investigator Mickey Buffkin told KATV the incident happened days after the department received calls about clown sightings, which have been reported in multiple states.

The police department made an internal investigation after the photo surfaced on social media. KARK-TV reported that the investigation found Summers willfully dressed up as a clown and allowed himself to be photographed.

Heath Bennett, the school district's assistant superintendent, told the Democrat-Gazette the investigation only pertained to police and does not involve the school. Summers was moved to patrol duty.

KATV reported Summers was suspended without pay, police said.

"No evidence was found linking the officer to the recent reported clown sighting in the White Hall, Pine Bluff area. The officer used poor judgment in the matter and has subsequently been disciplined," Bradley told KATV in a statement. "In light of recent sightings in the Pine Bluff, White Hall (area), the White Hall Police Department takes this matter seriously and holds its officers to a high standard of conduct. The White Hall Police Department apologizes for any concern this incident may have caused."

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