ND crime rate up in 2014

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says North Dakota’s crime rate per capita last year rose 4.4 percent from 2013.
 
     Stenehjem released the data Wednesday at the state Capitol in Bismarck.
 
     Stenehjem says one area of concern is the upward trend in illegal drugs in North Dakota. He says arrests for drug offenses increased almost 18 percent last year, to 4,000.
 
     Stenehjem says aggravated assaults were down 1 percent last year. He says it was the first time in at least 15 years aggravated assaults were down.
 
     There were 6,705 drunken driving arrests last year, down from 7,117 in 2013.
 
     There were 19 murders in North Dakota last year, up from 14 in 2013.