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Sheriff's office reports lower overall calls but spikes in serious incidents in December
Summary
At the Jan. 27 East Bethel City Council meeting, the sheriff's office said December saw the fewest monthly calls since March but highlighted several arrests and an uptick in traffic crashes and serious offenses.
The Anoka County Sheriff's Office told the East Bethel City Council on Jan. 27 that December 2024 was the department's slowest month since March but included several serious incidents and an increase in crashes and traffic enforcement.
The sheriff's office reported a total of 393 calls for service in December, including seven thefts, three reports of damage to property and 37 traffic crashes. Deputies made 25 arrests on miscellaneous offenses and conducted 114 traffic stops that resulted in 25 traffic citations, the office said.
The presentation highlighted several notable arrests. Deputy Aldean stopped a driver Dec. 5 at Highway 65 and 237th Avenue NE and arrested the driver on a gross misdemeanor charge after checking the driver's license status. Deputy Martinez arrested a driver Dec. 8 at 65 and 181st after finding two baggies that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine; that driver was booked on a possession charge. On Dec. 20, Deputy Johnson investigated a suspected impaired driver who refused field sobriety testing, resisted arrest and allegedly kicked a deputy; that person was booked on DWI refusal and assault on an officer, the sheriff's report said. On Dec. 30 deputies detained a heavily intoxicated man climbing through a broken window and booked him on trespassing and damage to property charges.
The sheriff's office put the department's annual total at 5,127 calls for service in 2024, up from 4,797 in 2023, and said Type 1 offenses (assaults and serious property damage) increased. The office also reported an increase in traffic crashes and in proactive traffic enforcement compared with 2023.
A council member asked whether the office could return with comparative statistics from nearby communities — Oak Grove, St. Francis, Ham Lake and Columbus — adjusted for population differences. The sheriff's representative said staff could prepare a population-adjusted comparative analysis.
The sheriff's office concluded with a request for questions and said it would return next month with any follow-ups.
