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Washington County attorney briefs Cottage Grove council on auto‑theft surge, trafficking unit and juvenile diversion
Summary
County Attorney Kevin Magnuson told the Cottage Grove City Council on Oct. 1 that auto theft rose sharply during the COVID years but is trending down, highlighted use of automated license‑plate readers and digital warrants, and described Washington County’s human‑trafficking unit and juvenile‑diversion efforts.
Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson told the Cottage Grove City Council on Oct. 1 that public safety remains his office’s “paramount concern,” summarizing recent local crime trends, investigative tools and diversion programs.
Magnuson said the county attorney’s office handles roughly 1,200 charging decisions a year from about 1,400 law‑enforcement referrals — a referral-to-charge rate he described as about 80–85 percent — and outlined staffing of roughly 61 employees split about half staff, half attorneys.
The presentation focused on vehicle thefts and related youth involvement. Magnuson said auto thefts climbed sharply around 2020–2021 and then began declining; he cited an example increase from 35 charged fleeing‑in‑motor‑vehicle incidents…
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