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Statistics for 2017

The McCracken County Sheriff's Department is today releasing the statistical data for the calendar year 2017, along with comparisons from the previous year of 2016.

Please take note that these numbers are obtained from the total numbers of initial reports taken, and do not take into account a case that after investigation was unfounded, or that was ultimately prosecuted as a lesser degree crime.

Part 1 Crime (the most serious) had an overall increase of about 15%, the increase being attributed solely to theft related offenses.

McCracken County Sheriff's Department investigated and cleared only one (1) murder case in 2017, which was down from two (2) in 2016.

This was the death of a 76 year old Fredricka Harpole. She was found bludgeoned to death lying on the back porch of her home during the morning hours of January 09, 2017 near the St. Johns community. She was found by her nephew, 48 year old Edwin Ricky Hawes II who then called 911. After a several day's long investigation, it was determined that her nephew (Hawes) had actually murdered her earlier that morning. He was charged with murder and has since been convicted.

*Rapes- down by 1
*Robberies- remained the same at 4.
*Felony Assaults- dropped by 18%, 34 down to 28.
*Residential and Commercial Burglary- increased from 125 in 2016, to 166 in 2017.
*Felony Thefts- rose also from 269 cases, to 305 last year.
*Auto Thefts- rose from 51 to 60 instances over the prior year.
*Arsons- there were no Arsons in 2017, with 4 cases in 2016.

Part 2 Crime (less serious and mostly misdemeanor crimes)

*Simple Assaults- saw a slight increase with 396 reported cases, compared to 379 in 2016.
*Forgery Cases reported and investigated went up to 38 from 27.
*Fraud cases: Decrease from 81 to 67.
*Criminal Mischief- 193 cases up from 174 in 2016.
*Weapons Violations: A decrease of 58%. 2016 36 cases, down to 15 for 2017.
*Sex Offenses (other than rape): 2016 40, 2017 33 cases. A, 18% decrease.
*Drug Violations went up considerably by 21%. In 2016, 598 cases investigated. 2017 there were 726.
*Offenses Against Families and Children: 2016 55 cases, up to 80 in 2017.

Arrest Data for 2017 shows the overall number of arrests made by the department went up, by 14%. The number of DUI arrests was down from the previous year. 2017 DUI arrest numbers were 190. For 2016 those numbers were 232, a decrease of about 18%. Deputies simply encountered fewer individuals behind the wheel that were intoxicated or under the influence.

Drug arrests rose by 21% from the previous year. In 2016, the department made 598 drug arrests, and in 2017 that number was 726.

*In 2017, there were a total of 2,906 arrests, compared to 2,553 arrests in 2016.

Collision Data for the past year shows almost no change in the total number of accidents, but with a 55% decrease in traffic deaths from 2016. The number of total accidents actually increased only by about 9 total, or 1%. The number of fatalities in McCracken County that were investigated by this agency was 5, compared to 11 in 2016.

Contributing factors noted in the five traffic fatalities were: Sun glare, driver inattention, disregarding traffic control device, excessive speed, and failure to yield right of way.

963 traffic accidents investigated in 2016
972 traffic accidents investigated in 2017

A few interesting facts related to this statistical data compiled:
*Alcohol was involved in 20 crashes
*The biggest cause for these crashes was Failure to Yield Right of Way in 174 crashes
*Driver Inattention noted in 82 crashes
*Not having the vehicle under proper control, attributed to 78 crashes

►2017 Statistics