You may have noticed that Wythe showed up on my list of top blocks for vice (predominantly drugs) in 2007. Unfortunately the drugs are only part of the problem.
Here are the offenses reported at Wythe for the period 1/1/00 to 12/31/2007:
|
Offense |
Count |
| SIMPLE ASSAULT | 153 |
| DISORDERLY CONDUCT | 115 |
| DRUG/NARCOTIC VIOLATION | 68 |
| TRESPASS OF REAL PROPERTY | 65 |
| THREATEN BODILY HARM | 43 |
| BOMB THREAT | 32 |
| ARSON | 25 |
| ALL OTHER LARCENY | 25 |
| ALL OTHER OFFENSES | 24 |
| WEAPON LAW VIOLATIONS, CONCEALED WEAPON | 20 |
| DESTRUCTION PROPERTY/CITY PROPERTY | 17 |
| THEFT FROM BUILDING | 17 |
| CURSING/OBSCENE LANGUAGE | 15 |
| OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE | 14 |
| AGGRAVATED ASSAULT | 13 |
| WEAPON LAW VIOLATIONS | 10 |
| DESTRUCTION PROPERTY/PRIVATE PROPERTY | 7 |
| HIT AND RUN | 7 |
| THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE | 6 |
| SUSPICIOUS SITUATION/PERSON | 6 |
| BURGLARY/B&E/COMMERCIAL | 4 |
| MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT | 4 |
| THEFT FROM COIN OPERATED MACHINE OR DEVICE | 3 |
| SIMPLE ASSAULT, DOMESTIC | 3 |
| FALSE ALARM | 3 |
| ROBBERY/INDIVIDUAL | 3 |
| LOST / SUSPICIOUS PROPERTY | 2 |
| THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS/ACCESSORIES | 2 |
| FOUND PROPERTY | 2 |
| RIOTING | 1 |
| EXTORTION | 1 |
| STOLEN PROPERTY OFFENSES | 1 |
| THROW MISSILE AT OCCUPIED VEHICLE | 1 |
| LOST / MISSING / SUSPICIOUS PROPERTY | 1 |
| INDECENT EXPOSURE | 1 |
| COURT DOCUMENTS | 1 |
| DESTRUCTION PROPERTY/PRIVATE/GRAFFITI | 1 |
| INTERFERING WITH DUTIES OF POL OFCR | 1 |
| LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS | 1 |
| Grand Total | 718 |
Notice that 21% of the reports are simple assaults and 9% are drug violations! This is not a safe place.
These data include only the incidents at the Wythe address, 4314 Crutchfield. I excluded the handful of suppressed address incidents ("43XX"), usually sex crimes, that seem out of place in the old folks' home across the street but that I can't be sure belong at the high school.
The annual graph shows that the number of offenses is roughly constant at just under 100 per year.
The assaults likewise are roughly constant at about 25 per year.
The drug problem, in contrast, is getting worse:
You may recall there was a story in the Times-Dispatch in mid-2002 showing NO weapon reports from any Richmond school in 2000. That story came just a couple of days before a number of Richmond area teachers appeared before the School Board to complain about the discipline problems, including weapons.
The Wythe weapon report numbers show a downward trend.
If, however, you believe that there were no weapon problems at George Wythe High School or at any other Richmond high school in 2000, I want to introduce you to my sister, the Tooth Fairy.
In light of the probable lie in 2000 about weapons and the School Board's penchant to cover up their problems, there's no way to tell how accurate or inaccurate these data are.