Crime up 4.6 percent in 2006, says Sheriff

Sheriff Greg Champagne reports that crime in St. Charles Parish rose 4.7% in 2006. The total number of crimes rose from 2,180 in 2005 to 2,283 in 2006.

The total number of crimes in St. Charles was 2283 for calendar year 2006. This is an increase of 103 offenses from the 2180 reported in 2005. The vast majority of this increase is due to a rise in assaults - from 677 in 205 to 767 in 2006, a total increase of 90.

"The increase in assaults could be a post-Katrina phenomenon,” said the sheriff. “Official estimates from St. Charles Parish report that the parish population has grown from 51,000 to 59,000 residents in the past year - an increase of 15 per cent. People are living in close quarters, many with pent up frustrations relating to the recovery of the metropolitan area. The category of assaults also includes domestic violence incidents as well as school fights among juveniles.”