ESTEVAN — The Estevan Police Service has seen an increase in the number of assaults in the community.
The EPS was called to 21 assaults in May, up from eight for the same month a year earlier, according to information released at the June 10 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners. Other incidents categorized as crimes against the person included five assaults causing bodily harm, up from two the previous year, one sexual crime and a murder. There were 12 crimes against the person in May of last year.
There were 73 crimes against the person this year, as of May 31, up four from 69 for the first five months of 2024. The 73 includes the assaults, eight assaults causing bodily harm, 10 sexual crimes and a murder.
The EPS handled 43 crimes against property in May, led by 20 mischief/willful damage incidents and 15 thefts under $5,000. Other infractions included four thefts of a motor vehicle, two residential break-and-enters and two thefts over $5,000. There were 45 property incidents reported in May 2024.
So far is year, the EPS has had 163 crimes against property, led by 86 thefts under $5,000 and 50 mischief/willful damage complaints. They have also had 12 thefts of a motor vehicle, nine residential break and enters, four thefts under $5,000 and two arsons. A total of 193 such incidents occurred through May 31, 2024.
There was one arrest for possession under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) last month, bringing the total for the year to six. The other five incidents in 2025 have been for trafficking. There weren't any CDSA charges in May 2024, and there were 15 such incidents in the first five months of 2024.
The EPS had nine Criminal Code traffic violations last month, with six for impaired/exceed-related charges, two for impairment by drug, and one for dangerous drive/other. There were 10 traffic charges in May 2024.
Members handled 39 such violations in the first five months of the year, with 24 for impaired/exceed-related offences, 11 for impairment by drug and four for dangerous driving and others. Through May 31 of last year, there were 52 such infractions.
The EPS had 606 calls for service in May, compared with 678 for the same month last year. Total calls were at 2,623 for the year, down 8.6 per cent from 2,869 the previous year. The five-year average was 3,022, with 64.2 for crimes against the person, 136 for crimes against property, 46.8 for Criminal Code traffic at 17 for CDSA charges.
