A 31-year-old man last month allegedly broke into a woman’s northwest Dayton home, sexually assaulted her and then forced her to watch a YouTube video while she ate her food.
A 37-year-old Dayton man was arrested last month after being accused of fracturing his 5-month-old daughter’s skull.
And a 34-year-old man was arrested a few weeks ago on allegations he shot someone multiple times at a southeast Dayton home after an argument.
Violent crime is on the rise in Dayton, and that troubling trend could continue into the summer, ie when some types of violent and property crimes tend to heat up.
Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal said there are no simple solutions to violent crime, but violent acts are often fueled by anger and rage, and people need to learn how to better manage it. emotions
“Consequences are not a concern for people who pull triggers or commit violent crimes,” Afzal said. “It’s anger issues.”
More incidences
Dayton police reported more than 9,600 total crimes in the first half of the year, up 20 percent from the same period in 2022, according to a Dayton Police Department Compstat report for incidents through June 26 .
All major crime categories increased, and all but one, Part I violent crimes, increased by double-digit percentages.
Police data shows that burglary, aggravated assault and simple assault related to domestic violence rose by 17%, while aggravated robbery rose by 11%.
The police recorded 485 incidents of threats (+25%) and 622 cases of simple assault not related to domestic abuse (+2%).
There have also been more property crimes. Domestic arson almost doubled to 22 incidents, while there were around 310 burglary reports (+25%).
Auto thefts soared to around 1,025 incidents, up from 431 at the same time in 2022 (+138%). It’s a trend that’s easy to explain, as thieves have exploited security flaws in Hyundais and Kias that make them easy to hijack using a basic USB cable. Many people have learned how to steal these cars by watching instructional videos on social media.
More background
In a statement, the Dayton Police Department said it is alarming that young people have been involved in many of the motor vehicle thefts and violent crimes.
“Furthermore, it is concerning that many of these young people do not have an adult to better guide them,” the department said.
During the COVID pandemic, many young people were unable to participate in normal activities and social interactions for an extended period of time and this took its toll, police said.
For many, the COVID crisis increased stress, depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation and loneliness, and opportunities for conflict with intimate partners and household members.
Violent firearm crimes increased by 19% in the first half of 2023, although firearm homicides and firearm crimes with injuries decreased by 24% and 6%, respectively.
Home shootings increased by approximately 27% to 76 incidents. Dayton had 18 murders and non-negligent homicide cases, one less than last year.
The community needs to find ways to change people’s hearts and minds so that they understand that violence is never an acceptable way to express anger, Police Chief Afzal said during a recent town hall focused on gun violence organized by the Dayton Unit of the NAACP.
“You can have all the rules in the world, but if someone doesn’t care, they’ll do whatever they want, because there’s anger,” Afzal said.
Afzal said there are community intervention programs that are meant to help “deprogram” people who think violence is okay.
Dayton police said the department’s violence reduction strategies focus on areas where violent acts occur and on people most likely to be guilty.
During the town hall, Afzal also spoke about how frustrating and disappointing it is that many people do not help the police when they have information about crimes and suspects.
Marlon Shackelford, a town hall panelist and president of Black Brothers & Sisters Involvement, said some people think cooperating with police is a form of snitching when it’s not.
He said people who act to keep their neighborhoods and communities safe are not scumbags, they are citizens.
“I am a citizen, I have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and I have a right to protect my community,” he said.
