Sidney, Mont. (AP) An eastern Montana sheriff says jails in the booming oil patch that spans his state and North Dakota are above capacity and need help.
Dawson County Sheriff Craig Anderson was one of several eastern Montana officials asking U.S. Senator Jon Tester to push for federal aid for their oil impacted region Friday. They say oil development in recent years has overburdened infrastructure and tested law enforcement agencies.
Anderson says his jail's average population last month was 27. The jail has a total of 28 beds.
The influx of workers to the oil patch has caused an increase in crime. Attorney General Tim Fox says oil patch arrests went up 80 percent between 2008 and 2012.
U.S. Attorney Michael Cotter says Montana has "big city problems'' these days.