The city got a small dose of reality after a few months of statistics showing progress by Battlefords City RCMP Detachment in the fight on crime.
Crime was back up in May 2011 in three categories where the detachment seemed to be making progress in recent months - person offences, break and enter on residences and criminal code offences.
According to the statistical data submitted by Staff Sgt. Phil Wilson of Battlefords RCMP to the City's municipal services committee, criminal code offences were up to 203 last month compared to 156 in May 2010. Residential break and enters were up to 12 from nine the previous May, and person offences were up in May to 105 from 98 last year.
Drug offences were also up for the month, from eight last May to 17 this May. Liquor act charges were up from 22 to 49, and impaired driving up from 29 to 34. Provincial traffic offences went down from 154 to 105 for the month.
On the positive side, business break and enters were down from nine to six while property offences for the month were down from 244 to 217.
Overall, calls for service were down for the month from 1,316 last May to 1,158 this May.
For the year to date, the city is seeing a definite trend downward in break and enters and property offences, with increases being recorded in other categories.
For 2011, Battlefords RCMP estimate residential break and enters as down 25 per cent, business break and enters down 38 per cent, and property offences down 17 per cent.
Criminal code offences had been going down as well, but with the May figures those are now one per cent up for the year. Person offences are up 12 per cent, liquor act charges up 20 per cent, impaired operation of a motor vehicle up 22 per cent and drug offences up 45 per cent. Calls for service for the year ending in May are now at 5,902, compared to 5,923 for the same period last year.
Twenty-four foot patrols were recorded in May. So far106 foot patrols have been recorded in the city.
The crime statistics were submitted by the city detachment to North Battleford's monthly municipal services committee Monday night.
The increases in May are not so surprising in retrospect, as Battlefords RCMP were busy that month responding to numerous highly-publicized crimes in the area. Wilson highlighted a few of those high-profile incidences in his May report.
According to his report, the investigation continues and charges are pending in the case of a 36-year-old male who was stabbed to the face May 2 in an incident on 101st Street.
During an off sale robbery May 16 at the Happy Inn a female victim was hit several times with a weapon in an attempt to stop the suspect, who grabbed several bottles of liquor. The woman sustained minor injuries.
Police also responded to a May 17 incident that included the report of a sexual assault as well as reports of an assault and thefts. An 18-year-old male, Arlen Wapass, was later arrested in connection to both this incident and the one May 16 at the Happy Inn. He faces seven charges including sexual assault, break and enter of a residence, assault, robbery with a weapon, disturbing the peace, overcoming resistance and failure to comply with a probation order.
Also, May 27, police charged former River Heights Lodge employee Audrey Gallinger with theft and fraud at the facility. She was in court earlier this week.
RCMP members located Dylan Paskemin, 19, and charged him with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose in respect to a stabbing incident on 104th Street. The 25-year-old victim suffered life threatening stab wounds and needed surgery at Battlefords Union Hospital, but was expected to make a full recovery.
Justin Fineday, 23, was also arrested and charged with assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose following a confrontation May 30 at a 100th Street gas station. Bear spray was used during that confrontation with another male and female. A gas station employee was also sprayed.
