BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Violent crimes in North Dakota increased by more than 7 percent in 2013, but the state's attorney general says the 2013 crime report has a few promising trends.
Wayne Stenehjem says the number of crimes increased 5.5 percent there were fewer reports of homicide and rape.
Stenehjem says that the increase in aggravated assaults in the western North Dakota oil patch is troubling. Aggravated assaults increased 23 percent in the oil patch counties. They only increased 3 percent in the rest of the state.
Stenehjem says about half of the assaults were part of domestic disputes.
Stenehjem says the biggest area of concern is still drug cases, which increased 19.5 percent in 2013.