Ripley County Sheriff Tom Grills has released information regarding office activity during 2013.
A total of 608 criminal cases were reported last year, which is up 58 from 2012.
Out of the criminal cases received, 373 were either closed or resulted in arrest, and 235 cases remain open, under investigation. That is approximately a 61% closure rating, up 5% from 2012. According to Sheriff Grills, the most frequent charge was theft with 163 reported.
Other common charges included; alcohol related offenses,117; drug related offenses, 86; traffic offenses,42; juvenile related offenses, 31; domestic related offenses, 126; and miscellaneous crimes against person or property at 324.
There were 841 prisoners, an increase of 108, booked into the Ripley County Jail with the most frequent charge being OWI in 2013. Other reoccurring charges included suspicion of drug possession, theft, battery and check deception.
The average daily inmate population at the jail was 91.
There were 6,718 calls for law enforcement assistance logged into Ripley County Communications last year. The Sheriffs Office handled 4,509 of the calls, roughly 67%. The next closest agency was Milan with 466, according to the sheriff. The rest of the calls were handled by other municipal and state agencies that serve in the county.
Reserve Officers worked over 1858.5 hours during 2013. That is approximately 154 extra man hours per month, or almost another full time road deputy, according to the sheriff.
Deputies of the Ripley County Sheriffs Office also investigated a total of 432 motor vehicle accidents. There were 371 property damage accidents, 61 personal injury accidents with 86 people being injured, and 1 fatality. The most frequent cause of accidents was an animal in the roadway; primary deer.
For those that have information regarding a criminal case, Grills encourages to report it by contacting a local law enforcement agency. Individuals can remain anonymous. The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 812-689-5558.
