OCEAN CITY – As the end of the year nears, Ocean City Police Department statistics continue to report an overall decrease in Part 1 Crime, although calls for service in November increased compared to last year.
According to the report, November’s total calls for service, including traffic stops, business checks and assistance to citizens, totaled 4,220, which is a 23.3-percent increase from November 2013 when there were 3,423 calls for service. Out of that total, 3,643 were officer initiated, which is a 35-percent increase from November 2013, and 577 were citizen initiated, which is 23.3-percent decrease from November 2013.
The total number of calls for service, excluding traffic stops, business checks and assisting citizens, totaled 2,071, which is a 17.4-percent increase from November 2013 when there were 1,764 calls for service. Out of the total, 1,522 were officer initiated, which is a 40.8-percent increase from November 2013, and 549 were citizen initiated, which is a 19.6-percent decrease from November 2013.
Out of the top 25 calls for service, the majority of the categories decreased starting with suspicious person or activity with 97 calls in November of this year compared to 111 calls in November last year; 911 hang up calls decreased to 86 from 100 last year; assist to OC EMS decreased to 53 from 56 last year; assist to motorists decreased to 32 from 38 last year; assists to the Fire Company decreased to 37 from 40 last year; warrant attempt or arrest decreased to 31 from 38 last year; theft already occurred decreased to 25 from 26 last year; collision decreased to 15 from 27 last year; DWI investigate and/or arrest decreased to 13 from 25 last year; CDS violations decreased to 10 from 16 last year; assault already occurred decreased to six from 10 last year; noise complaint or violation decreased to six from 12 last year; and civil dispute decreased to six from 23 last year.
The categories that increased in the month of November start with assist to citizens increased to 99 calls this year compared to 91 calls in November last year; malicious destruction of property increased to 52 from 13 last year; disorderly increased to 39 from 36 last year; domestic assault/dispute increased to 28 from 26 last year; city ordinance violation increased to 17 from 13 last year; trespassing increased to 12 from eight last year; parking complaints/violations increased to 11 from eight last year; stolen vehicle unauthorized increased to two from one last year; and robbery strong arm increased to one call compared to none last year.
The category of breaking and entering remained the same with nine calls in both November of 2013 and 2014; report of a fight remained the same with one call in both years; and sex offense and indecent exposure remained the same with one call in both years.
There were 76 arrests made in November and one criminal citation issued. There were 11 drug arrests made but no drug citations. There were 14 DUI arrests made and seven weapon arrests, according to OCPD data.
Eleven months into the year, a weekly breakdown reflects a 2.1-percent decrease in total crime this year compared to last year.
Under Part 1 Crimes, there has been one homicide compared to one this time last year; no shootings compared to one this time last year; 21 forcible rapes in 2013 compared to 25 this year; 18 robberies in 2013 compared to 19 this year; 41 aggravated assaults in 2013 compared to 59 this year; 229 burglaries in 2013 compared to 286 this year; 976 larcenies in 2013 compared to 902 this year; 31 auto thefts in 2013 compared to 36 this year; and there was one case of arson in 2013 compared to two so far this year.
There have been 701 common assaults so far this year compared to 762 this time last year and 61 minor sex offenses so far this year compared to 57 last year, resulting in an overall total of 2,092 crimes at the end of November this year compared to 2,137 at the end of November in 2013.
For comparison, the daily average population estimates in Ocean City in November produced by Demoflush was 74,274 this year compared to 71,436 last November, which is a 4-percent increase.
There was only one incident in November when a Controlled Electronic Weapon (CEW), also known as a Taser, was involved.
On Nov. 30, officers were addressing an intoxicated disorderly suspect at a bar. During the interaction between the officers and the suspect, an altercation occurred between the suspect and an officer, with the suspect grabbing onto the officers ankles and tripping the officer. Another officer on scene displayed his CEW and ordered the suspect to stop resisting without success. The same officer then produced a warning arc with his CEW and ordered the suspect to stop resisting a second time and the suspect complied. The suspect had minor lacerations to his elbows and the backs of both hands. There were no officers injured in this incident.