Not much changed in terms of crime for Medical Lake.
According to statistics from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, there were 1,061 computer aided dispatch calls from January to June, an 8 percent increase from last year’s number of 976 around the same timeframe as last year. However, the 2015 CAD incidents were down from 2013’s numbers (1,077).
Some areas where crime increased include self-initiated incidents, which were up 14 percent (534 to 621) and traffic stops, which rose 1 percent (173 to 175). Traffic incidents that resulted in arrests, citations and investigations were down 14 percent (36 to 31). Accidents were up 38 percent (13 to 21) while driving under the influence incidents were down 57 percent (7 to 3) and drug calls decreased by 42 percent (7 to 4).
“Incidents in all areas are either up or down,” Deputy Mark Gregory said. “It looks like it’s going to be a level year.”
Domestic violence incidents rose from 27 to 34. At the July 21 City Council meeting, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich explained that his office has a domestic violence awareness program and more people are reporting these crimes.
Knezovich informed council that property crimes in the city, as well as across Spokane County have dropped, however there are more person-to-person crimes, which include assault and abuse. He said most of the assault calls originate from Eastern State Hospital and Lakeland Village rather than from within the city itself.
“It’s not the people living in the community, it’s mostly the people at the hospitals” Knezovich said. “It’s not something that’s out of control. If someone touches another person, it becomes assault and they have to call it in because that’s the law.”
Suspicious activity increased 15 percent (100 to 117). Shoplifting incidents increased 50 percent (one to two) as did alarm calls by 5 percent (21 to 22). Arrests rose 14 percent (63 to 72).
Crime check reports were up 9 percent (92 to 101) and 911 abandoned calls rose 26 percent (50 to 68). Calls for service went down 1 percent (442 to 440).
Knezovich said the Sheriff’s Office would help Medical Lake get compensation for the fire and policing services they provide at the hospitals, something that’s been an issue for the city for the last few years. In the statistics, Spokane County does not separate incidents that happen in the city versus ones that happen at the state hospitals.
Knezovich told the City Council that he planned on meeting with local state elected officials in order to hopefully “fix that disparity.”
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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