Police estimate 50,000 people showed up for an event they worked hard to keep people from.

After 80,000 came for Halloween 2007, the town came up with a plan for reducing that number - and saving some of the $200,000-plus it cost for security and clean-up.

They succeeded in decreasing the crowd to 35,000 last year, but the number rebounded this year, reminding Town Manager Roger Stancil why the town should maintain plenty of security until Chapel Hill Halloween loses more of its popularity.

"We're hesitant to reduce the number of officers," Stancil said. "We have to be prepared for what we know can be."

Orange County Emergency Medical Services responded to 22 calls Saturday and eight people were transported to UNC Hospitals. Eighteen of the calls were related to intoxication.

Police arrested Stephen James Howard and charged him with stabbing a fraternity student in the thigh. Howard was held on $20,000 bond on a charge of assault with a deadily weapon inflicting serious injury.

Around 1:20 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a stabbing call at 106 Big Fraternity Court. The victim had been stabbed by a suspect who fled the area. The victim was taken to UNC Hospitals, where he was treated and released.

The suspect was described as a white male with a buzz or military-style haircut wearing a black robe with a gold cross medallion around his neck. Hours later, officers received information that led to Howard's arrest.

For the last two years, the town has tried to limit out-of-town visitors by closing Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, East Franklin Street and Highway 54 down to one inbound lane, eliminating bus parking and shuttle service and raising parking-lot fees. Bars have cooperated by collecting cover charges to discourage bar-hopping and turning away new customers after 1 a.m.

Stancil thinks these measures have helped to bring more local families with children onto Franklin Street, perhaps reducing the potential for violence.

"That the environment we're trying to create," Stancil said. "The whole issue really is to try to create a homegrown hall for UNC students and people who live here."