What’s thought to be a poorly-thought out Halloween costume caused a scare at Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus Monday afternoon when a man was spotted in army fatigues and what looked to be a pistol strapped to his leg.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and Saanich police are recommending one charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

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Police responded to several reports of a man with a handgun on the Lansdowne campus around 3 p.m. Officers were on scene within four minutes and quickly arrested a man, said Saanich police spokesman acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie. A replica hand gun was seized.

“We would like to remind people that carrying an imitation firearm is extremely dangerous, even at Halloween,” Leslie said. “Responding to this incident put many people at possible risk.”

It’s unclear if the man is a Camosun student. The man will appear in court in mid-December.

Halloween weekend, in advance of the actual day, was relatively routine for Greater Victoria police officers, with calls for public drunkenness and complaints about fireworks the most common concerns.

Victoria police took 12 people into cells for public intoxication between noon on Friday and noon on Monday, according to department spokesman Bowen Osoko. West Shore RCMP arrested two people for public intoxication Saturday night.

kderosa@timescolonist.com