Crime stats reported to city council this month

BY Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG – Alcohol violations and family strife accounted for the majority of criminal activity increases in Walsenburg according to the latest statistics provided by police.
The police department’s August 2011 crime stats were provided to city council at a meeting earlier this month.
Alcohol and drug violations increased in some areas including six DUI / DUID arrests in August 2011 compared to three in the previous year. Three cases of minor in possession of alcohol were reported, compared with none for August 2010. Eight cases of marijuana possession were reported for last month compared to a single such violation in the prior year for the same month. There were also seven cases of drug paraphernalia possession compared to zero reported for the same time frame last year.
In the crimes against persons and property (domestic violence) section of the report two domestic violence assaults were reported in August 2011 and three cases of harassment. There were no reports in either category for August 2010.
No crimes against children were recorded in the August 2011 report. There have been eight cases of local child abuse investigated this year and a single child custody incident. Five summons, arrests or warrants served in this category so far this year.
One case of identity theft was reported in August 2011.
There have been 39 incidents of theft under $500 reported this year, eight cases reported last month; there have been 31 cases of theft over $500 reported in 2011 with one reported in August 2011. Eleven incidents of criminal mischief were reported last month, just one more than August 2010. There have been a total of 21 cases of vandalism reported in the city this year.
In the arena of juvenile crime last month, city police reported one assault against a peace officer, two cases of possession or use of alcohol and three incidents of possession or use of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Traffic violations increased with six reported driver’s license violations (compared to two in 2010 for the same period); 11 incidents of speeding (compared to five in August 2010) the total speeding violations so far this year in Walsenburg are 197. Four hit and run accidents were reported in August 2011 compared to one in August 2010.
WPD Lieutenant Kurt Leibchen presented the statistics report to the Walsenburg City Council on September 20.