Crime decreases by 5.8 percent in 2010

Lower numbers of rapes, assaults, burglaries and thefts led to a 5.8 percent decrease in St. Charles Parish crime in 2010 when compared to 2009, according to FBI crime statistics.

The total number of offenses reported in the parish fell from 2,456 to 2,313 from 2009 to 2010. Rapes decreased from 12 to seven, while assaults dropped by 3 percent from 894 to 866 during that same period.

Burglaries fell by 14 percent, from 425 to 366, while thefts decreased 5.6 percent from 1,016 crimes reported in 2009 to 959 crimes reported in 2010.

While most crime categories experienced decreases, some did rise.

While there was only one murder in 2009, there were three people killed in 2010.

On Sept. 22, 2010, authorities say that Luling resident Gary Farrell shot and killed Ginger Mongrue Allen before leaving her body in a parked car in the St. Charles Parish Hospital parking lot. After a standoff, Farrell shot himself in the head.

He remains in a coma.

In April 2010, Marshall Payton, 59, of New Sarpy, shot and killed his neighbor, fired several shots at his daughter and pistol-whipped his wife, according to authorities.

Then in November, Norco was rocked by the brutal murder of 77-year-old Mary Nancy Mule Arico. Four teenagers have been arrested in connection with the crime.

Robberies also increased by one, from 23 to 24, while auto thefts rose by three, from 85 instances in 2009 to 88 in 2010.

Sheriff Greg Champagne said that domestic violence and thefts continue to be the two largest categories of crime the parish experiences.

“While domestic violence is hard to prevent, we also encourage reporting of it,” he said. “Increased reporting may be responsible for some of this ‘increase.’”

Champagne said that thefts, on the other hand, are the easiest crime to prevent by taking basic precautions around your home and car.

“Keep garages, sheds, and car doors locked when not in use,” Champagne said. “Also, removing valuables from your automobile will go a long way to deter this type of offense. A large number of thefts that occur happen with unlocked automobiles.”