According to Sheriff Jon Hayden, overall crime rose two percent in the county compared to a year ago. According to the report, two murder cases were reported and investigated in 2014, with none reported in 2013. Felony rape cases were down 21 percent, robbery stayed the same at eight percent, felony assaults were down 17 percent, but burglary cases were up 31 percent.
Felony thefts were down 12 percent and arson cases down 50 percent. Auto theft cases increased from 20 in 2013 to 32 in 2014. Hayden said the increase is attributed to a rash of vehicle thefts last spring where several juveniles went on a crime spree stealing vehicles and joyriding in them.
The report showed an overall increase in less serious and mostly misdemeanor crimes. Arrest data for 2014 shows the overall number of arrests made by the sheriff's department was up 19 percent. The number of DUI arrests were down a considerable amount, from 303 in 2013 to 178 in 2014, a decrease of 41%.
Drug arrests remained at about or near the numbers for 2013 with a slight decrease of three percent overall.
Collision data for the past year showed overall 13 more accidents than in 2013, an increase of two percent.
The number of fatalities in McCracken County that were investigated by the sheriff's department remained unchanged at three.
