The first rule of Halloween revelry: Try not to start a citywide panic

This is an image of a typical Michael Myers costume, NOT the person who was spoken to last Saturday near the Common. (Courtesy photo)

Anyone thinking of going out and scaring up a little fun tonight should be aware of a cautionary tale straight out of the Rochester Police Daily Press Logs that occurred a week ago.

It was totally dark, a little before 8 p.m., when police dispatch got a call for a motorist on Hancock Street who said a man in a Michael Myers costume wielding a knife had come running toward their car.

Moments later another call came in for a man in the same vicinity brandishing a knife as he approached vehicles.

As you would expect it didn't take very long for police to intervene.

When the officer called in to report back he said the man was doing it as a Halloween prank and that his housemates were taking videos of the high jinks.

The officer also found the knife was made of foam and the man had never left his property.

So there was no arrest, just friendly advice: "Don't be doin' that."

Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham was more than happy to weigh in on the matter, urging folks to be responsible this weekend.

"Police urge Halloween enthusiasts to not dress, act, and/or conduct pranks in a manner that could alarm the general public to the point where they fear for their safety or create widespread rumors that may create a real concern and risk to public," Pinkham said. "Celebrating the Halloween holiday is meant to be both fun and scary, however, police ask that you celebrate in a way that does not create a dangerous situation for you or others and does not create an unnecessary sense of alarm to the public."