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A Schenectady woman, Christi Hosier, 27, was arrested for falsely reporting a needle in Halloween candy. According to the Scotia Police Department, Hosier posted a photo on the "Scotia Glenville Current Events" Facebook page, claiming she found a sewing needle in candy collected during trick-or-treating in Scotia. However, an investigation revealed that Hosier placed the needle in the candy herself and had not gone trick-or-treating in Scotia as she claimed.
Scotia Police Chief Adam Halbfinger emphasized the importance of not spreading false information, as it can cause unnecessary alarm and divert resources from genuine public safety concerns. Hosier was charged with falsely reporting an incident and released on an appearance ticket. She is scheduled to appear in Scotia Village Court at a later date.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Halloween candy tampering myths, which have persisted since the 1980s. Authorities continue to advise parents to inspect their children's candy for signs of tampering, such as unusual appearances, discoloration, or unwrapped items.
Police remind the public that filing false reports can lead to legal consequences and stress the importance of accurate reporting to ensure community safety.