SHERIFF RELEASES 2003 CRIME STATS REPORT

It's been a long year and the Watauga County Sheriff's Department has
felt the pressure.

Sheriff Mark Shook has released his annual crime statistics report and
the news is both good and bad. Crime is up, but so are arrests.

Shook attributes most of the rise in county crime to the fact that
Watauga County is No. 1 in the state in methamphetamine production.

The county is also No. 1 in the state in meth lab busts and arrests, a
fact he attributes to the hard work of his officers.

Shook said, "2003 was a very busy year for the Sheriff's Office. We
worked hard and had many successes. We led the state in clandestine
methamphetamine laboratory seizures. In fact we made the effort
against methamphetamine one of our top priorities. We busted 34 "meth
labs" in 2003 and are on track for at least that many in 2004.

"Watauga Sheriff's officers have worked tirelessly against that rising
methamphetamine problem and have made a difference. As Sheriff of
Watauga County, I am proud of the job my officers have done."

Shook reports that 511 felony arrests in 2003 almost doubled the 2002
count of 292.

"The felony arrest increase is due to the Sheriff's Office's firm
stance against serious crime both against persons, property and
controlled substances," Shook said. "Drug arrests up by 334 from 179
in 2002 to 513 in 2003.

"This dramatic increase in drug-related arrests is indicative of our
campaign against methamphetamine, clandestine drug laboratories, and
other controlled substance violations.

Sheriff's officers have worked hard and had great success in this
arena." Deputies responded to 13,672 calls for service in 2003. This
is a jump of 2,379 from the 11,293 calls in 2002.

"The increase in calls for service demonstrates the higher call volume
experienced by the Sheriff's Office in 2003. We are receiving more and
more calls for service. These calls run the gamut from homicide to
barking dogs and everything in between," Shook said.

. Breaking & Entering down by 14 from 316 in 2002 to 302 in
2003.

. Larceny Reports down by 70 from 547 in 2002 to 477 in
2003.

. Damage to Property down by 39 from 364 in 2002 to 325 in
2003.

.n Breaking & Entering to motor vehicle up 27 from 12 in 2002 to 39 in
2003.

Shook said, "These four categories should be considered together as
each is directly related to the other. Taken together these categories
show a decrease of 96 reports in this vital area, I attribute this
decreased theft rate to aggressive drug enforcement.

"Many of the crimes of theft are directly related to drugs. By making
it difficult for drug dealers to operate in Watauga County, we have
this decrease in property crime."

Detention Center Intake was up by 870 from 1,596 in 2002 to 2,466 in
2003.

"This category represents one of the biggest issues facing the
Sheriff's Office. The number of prisoner intakes has risen
dramatically. Our inmate population is substantially more than it has
ever been."

One of the lesser-known tasks of the Sheriff's office is the service
of warrants and civil executions based on court orders for judgements
in civil and tax cases.

Shook reported that money collected on Civil Executions was up by
$143,939.10. Collections in 2002 were $48,945.09. Collections in 2003
rose to $192,884.10.

Money collected on Tax Warrants was $19,020; up $15,337 over the 2002
collections figure of $3,682.

Shook said, "I am particularly pleased with the job done by the Civil
Division of the Sheriff's Office. In the course of the year they have
collected a substantial amount money as directed by the court.

"These executions and tax warrants are an important part of a
Sheriffs' responsibilities and these collections are a direct result
of the hard work by these officers."

While drug and other felony arrests were up in 2003, Shook reports
that driving while impaired (DWI) arrests dropped significantly. He
said that 2003 saw 21 DWI arrests, down by 27 from 48 in 2002.

Shook is concerned that the drop is not an indication of a drop in
drinking and driving, but an inability to address all of the demands
placed on the Sheriff's department.

"Unfortunately when patrol officers are as busy as ours have been in
2003 there are always a few categories that suffer. In our case DWI
enforcement was drastically reduced by the shortage of officer time.
Our patrol deputies have spent many long hours guarding meth lab
scenes, serving warrants, transporting mental commitment patients, and
handling prisoners. After reviewing this category I have instructed
deputies to make DWI enforcement a priority and they have; as of March
8, Wataiuga County Deputies have made 17 DWI arrests in 2004."