An Upstate New York woman has been arrested for a Halloween candy hoax.
The Scotia Police Department announced Monday that Christi Hosier, 27, of Schenectady, N.Y., was arrested and charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident.
Hosier claimed she found a small sewing needle in Halloween candy collected during trick-or-treating on Friday, Oct. 31, in Scotia. She posted about it on the “Scotia Glenville Current Events” Facebook page, then called police to formally report the alleged incident.
Police said an investigation determined Hosier had placed the needle in the candy herself and had not even gone trick-or-treating in the Village of Scotia as she originally claimed.
“The Scotia Police Department reminds the public that spreading false information or filing false reports can cause unnecessary alarm and divert police resources from genuine public safety concerns,” Scotia Police Chief Adam Halbfinger said. “We thank the community for its cooperation and understanding as we worked to resolve this matter.”
Hosier was given an appearance ticket and released from custody. Scotia is located near Schenectady, about 16 miles outside of Albany.
Most tales of Halloween candy being poisoned, drugged or stuffed with razor blades and needles are a myth — largely related to fears of Tylenol poisonings in the 1980s — but authorities still regularly advise parents to check their children’s candy. Warning signs of sweets tainted or laced with drugs include an unusual appearance or any discoloration; tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers; unwrapped items; and homemade items or baked goods (unless you personally know who handed them out).
Past reports of tampering have included a razor blade allegedly found in Chenango County last year, marijuana edibles allegedly given to a child while trick-or-treating in St. Lawrence County in 2023, and nails allegedly found in candy bars in Watertown in 2020.
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