ISP: County's crime rate increases

SANDPOINT — While reported crime decreased statewide in 2023, it increased in Bonner County, according to the Idaho State Police uniform crime report published earlier this month. 

Bonner County saw a 13.97% increase compared to 2022, according to ISP's data, with 1,803 total offenses reported in 2023. The rate of reported offenses has varied over the past five years, with the highest rate reported this past year to a low of 1,582 in 2022.

Crimes against society, which include crimes involving drugs, weapons and gambling, were the most frequently reported, with 798 reported in total. Among them were 401 drug/narcotic violations and 367 “drug equipment” violations, as well as 30 weapons law offenses.  There were no reported cases of animal cruelty in 2023, according to ISP's data.

The next largest group of reported offenses was crimes against property. These include 307 reported cases of larceny or theft, 127 reported cases of destruction of property and 37 cases of motor vehicle theft. Bonner County saw three reported robberies in 2023, 84 reported cases of breaking and entering or burglary and four reported arson cases.

A total of 355 crimes against persons were reported in Bonner County last year, including two murders, 11 rapes and two “statutory” rapes. The most frequently reported crime in this category was simple assault, with 257 cases, followed by 32 cases of aggravated assault. There were no reported cases of human trafficking in Bonner County last year. 

The county saw 211 reported DUI cases in 2023, three of them involving juvenile drivers, as well as six cases of disorderly conduct, 11 liquor law violations, eight nonviolent family offenses and 21 trespass of real property cases.

There were 1,393 arrests in the county last year, a slight increase — 0.29% — over the previous year. Of those arrests, 1,273 were adults and 120 were juveniles. The county arrest rate is 2,629.5 per 100,009 population.

Within the last five years, the total number of arrests was highest in 2021 with 1,687 arrests occurring, dropping to 1,389 in 2022 and edging upward slightly in 2023 to 1,393.

The city of Ponderay saw a decrease of 76.04% in the total number of offenses reported in 2023, with 23 total offense reported. A majority were crimes against society, seven drug/narcotic violations and six "drug equipment" violations. The remainder were property crimes, with nine larceny/theft cases and one destruction of property case.

There were 110 arrests, including five juveniles with an arrest rate per 100,000 population of 6,193.7.

The city of Priest River saw a 28.36% increase in crime in 2023, according to ISP data, with 86 offenses reported in total. In crimes against persons simple assaults comprised the majority with 12, including three juvenile cases. In crimes against property, there were 13 larceny/theft cases and 12 destruction of property. In crimes against society, there were 17 drug/narcotic violations and 20 drug equipment violations.

The city of Sandpoint saw a 16.08% increase in crime reported, with 491 offenses reported in total, according to ISP data.

Crimes against society were the most frequently reported with 105 drug/narcotic violations, 90 drug equipment violations and 13 weapons law violations.

A majority of offenses classified as crimes against property were larceny/theft offenses, 110; destruction of property, 25; and burglary or breaking and entering, 30. There was one reported robbery. In crimes against persons, there were 69 simple assaults and four aggravated assaults and 19 cases of fondling.

Statewide, a total of 75,639 offenses were reported in 2023, a 4.6% decrease over the previous year. Crimes against society made up the bulk of these offenses, including 14,067 drug/narcotic violations and 12,524 drug equipment offenses. There were 103 reported cases of animal cruelty statewide, resulting in 48 arrests. 

Most reported crimes against property were larceny or theft offenses, 11,762 in total, followed by 5,959 destruction of property cases and 5,110 cases of fraud. There were 1,529 reported cases of motor vehicle theft in Idaho. 

Simple assault cases were the most frequently reported crime against persons, with 11,086 occurring statewide last year, followed by 3,463 reported cases of aggravated assault. 

There were 43 reported murders throughout the state — a number that equates to one murder occurring every 8.5 days, according to ISP — as well as 594 rapes and 40 statutory rapes. ISP estimates that rape occurs every 14.7 hours in Idaho.

Idaho saw 17 reported cases of human trafficking, including 14 cases involving commercial sex acts and three cases of “involuntary servitude.” 

Police arrested 51,746 people in Idaho last year, an increase of 353 over 2022, among them 5,439 juveniles. The statewide arrest rate is 2,644 per 100,000 population. 

Reporter Kaye Thornbrugh contributed to this story.