Send In, er, Run From, The Clowns

If You live in Western Washington state and you see someone dressed in black, wearing clown makeup and carrying a machete, it would be a good idea to beat feet in the opposite direction.

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Police are on the lookout for members of a machete-wielding gang in angry clown make-up after a rampage of robbery and violence that left nearly two dozen people injured in a park in western Washington state.

The group, who said they were "juggalos," devotees of the Detroit-based rap-metal group Insane Clown Posse, attacked and robbed visitors to Fort Steilacoom Park while shouting "Woo, woo, juggalo!" to each other, according to court documents.

Prosecutors in Pierce County south of Seattle charged three people with assault and robbery last week, but police in the City of Lakewood said they are searching for another eight to 10 suspects who took part.

And people wonder why there has been a rash of cases of coulrophobia. Instead of "Can't sleep, clown will eat me" maybe it should be, "can't jog, clown will beat me".

Just to be safe, our advice is to stay away from all clowns, everywhere. Forever. And Mimes, too.