REPRESENTS THAT AREA ABOUT WHAT SHE THINKS CAN BE DONE. WELL, JOE BETH HAMMOND TELLS ME SHE DOESN’T THINK THAT INCREASING THE POLICE PRESENCE THERE IS THE ANSWER. BUT EXPANDING RESOURCES IS NOW. OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING ALL OF THESE CRIMES. WHAT I ON JANUARY 10TH, A MAN ARMED WITH A GUN ATTACKED A CLERK AND ROBBED A LIQUOR STORE ON NORTHWEST 10TH AND PENN. FIVE DAYS LATER AND ONE MILE AWAY ON NORTHWEST 10TH AND MAY, ANOTHER LIQUOR STORE ROBBERY WHERE A SUSPECT FIRED A SHOT AT OKLAHOMA CITY. POLICE TOLD KOCO THE INCIDENTS AREN’T RELATED, BUT HIS CRIME CONTINUES IN THE AREA. OFTEN PEOPLE ENGAGE IN, YOU KNOW, ROBBERY, YOU KNOW, HOMICIDE, DIFFERENT, UM, SORT OF CRIMINALIZED BEHAVIORS, UM, BECAUSE THEY’RE ARE LACKING RESOURCES, LACKING COPING SKILLS. CITY COUNCILOR JOE BETH HAMMOND SAYS THESE CRIMES ARE A PROBLEM WITHOUT AN EASY SOLUTION. SUNDAY NEAR NORTHWEST 10TH AND PENN KOCO WAS ON SCENE OF A SUSPICIOUS DEATH. THE PERSON HAD SOME INJURIES TO THEIR BODY THAT LED OFFICERS TO BELIEVE THEY MAY BE A VICTIM OF A HOMICIDE. UH, THE EMMYS OFFICE AGAIN CAME OUT, COLLECTED THE BODY. THEY WILL LET US KNOW. AT THIS POINT. OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING IT AS IF IT’S GOING TO TO BE DEEMED A HOMICIDE. AND HOURS LATER, AT THE SAME INTERSECTION, A REPORTED STABBING, THE VICTIM TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. PLUS, OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE RELEASING INFORMATION MONDAY ABOUT A HOMICIDE FROM FRIDAY. NOW, HAMMOND SAYS SHE WANTS TO GET TO THE CORE OF THE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR HERE. THERE’S SOME POCKETS OF THE WARD THAT TYPICALLY ARE A LOT MORE UNDER-RESOURCED, A LOT HIGHER RATES OF POVERTY IN HISTORIES OF TRAUMA, ADVOCATING TO INCREASE FUNDING AND RESOURCES. THE INVESTMENTS IN THE PARK SYSTEM AS WELL AS OUR LIKE, THE YOUTH CENTERS, I THINK WILL GO A LONG WAY TO, UM, CREATE SOME MORE INVESTMENT IN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN JUST LONG, SORT OF NEGLECTED. AND HAMMOND SAYS, RATHER THAN JUST INCREASING POLICE PRESENCE, HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT END UP IN VERSUS JUST SORT OF KIND OF SCOOTCHING THEM FROM ONE PART OF THE CITY TO THE OTHER. UM, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WHAT A LOT OF, UM, JUST INCREASING POLICE PRESENCE IN AN AREA DOES. NOW, OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE HAVE NOT ARRESTED A
Lawmaker discusses solutions after crime spike within 1-mile area of OKC
The crime spike happened on Northwest 10th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and May Avenue.
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Updated: 6:10 PM CST Jan 29, 2024
A homicide, a suspicious death, a stabbing and two armed robberies all occurred in January within one mile of each other in Oklahoma City.The crime spike happened on Northwest 10th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and May Avenue. JoBeth Hamon, city councilor for Ward 5, said she doesn't think increasing police presence is the solution, but rather, expanding resources.OKC police are investigating all of these incidents.| MORE | Police: Homicide investigation underway after body found in OKCOn Jan. 10, a man armed with a gun attacked a clerk and robbed a liquor store on Northwest 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Five days later, and one mile away on Northwest 10th Street and May Avenue, another liquor store was robbed and the suspect fired a shot.OKC police told KOCO 5 the incidents aren't related but the crime continues in the area."Oftentimes, people engage in robbery, homicide, sort of criminalized behaviors because they’re lacking resources, lacking coping skills," Hamon said.Hamon said the crimes are a problem without an easy solution. On Sunday, near Northwest 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, KOCO 5 was at the scene of a suspicious death."The deceased person had some injuries to their body that led officers to believe they may be the victim of a homicide. The ME’s office again came out and collected the body. They will let us know. At this point, our investigators are working it as it's going to be deemed a homicide," said Gary Knight with OKC police.Hours later at the same intersection, a stabbing was reported and the victim was taken to the hospital. OKC police also released information on Monday about a homicide from Friday.| MORE | Investigation underway after northwest OKC shooting leaves 1 dead, another injuredNow, Hamon said she wants to get to the core of the criminal behavior."There’s some pockets of the ward that typically are a lot more underresourced, a lot higher rates of poverty and histories of trauma," Hamon said.She advocated increased funding and resources."The investment in the park system as well as the youth centers I think will go a long way to create some more investments in areas of the city that have been long neglected," Hamon said.Hamon suggested not just increasing police presence."Having more opportunities to connect with people versus scooching them from one part of a city to the other which, unfortunately, is what I think a lot of just increasing police presence in an area does," Hamon said.OKC police have not connected any of these incidents and there are no suspects in custody for any of these crimes.Top HeadlinesPerson taken to hospital after vehicle badly damaged on I-35 in MoorePresidents Day 2024 Sales: Early deals you should know about2 people, including adult film actress Jesse Jane, found dead at Moore homeCar crashes into side of Braum's in south Oklahoma City, injuring 1 personMember of OKGOP committee that condemned Lankford wasn't notified of meeting, calling it illegitimate
OKLAHOMA CITY — A homicide, a suspicious death, a stabbing and two armed robberies all occurred in January within one mile of each other in Oklahoma City.
The crime spike happened on Northwest 10th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and May Avenue. JoBeth Hamon, city councilor for Ward 5, said she doesn't think increasing police presence is the solution, but rather, expanding resources.
OKC police are investigating all of these incidents.
| MORE | Police: Homicide investigation underway after body found in OKC
On Jan. 10, a man armed with a gun attacked a clerk and robbed a liquor store on Northwest 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Five days later, and one mile away on Northwest 10th Street and May Avenue, another liquor store was robbed and the suspect fired a shot.
OKC police told KOCO 5 the incidents aren't related but the crime continues in the area.
"Oftentimes, people engage in robbery, homicide, sort of criminalized behaviors because they’re lacking resources, lacking coping skills," Hamon said.
Hamon said the crimes are a problem without an easy solution. On Sunday, near Northwest 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, KOCO 5 was at the scene of a suspicious death.
"The deceased person had some injuries to their body that led officers to believe they may be the victim of a homicide. The ME’s office again came out and collected the body. They will let us know. At this point, our investigators are working it as it's going to be deemed a homicide," said Gary Knight with OKC police.
Hours later at the same intersection, a stabbing was reported and the victim was taken to the hospital. OKC police also released information on Monday about a homicide from Friday.
| MORE | Investigation underway after northwest OKC shooting leaves 1 dead, another injured
Now, Hamon said she wants to get to the core of the criminal behavior.
"There’s some pockets of the ward that typically are a lot more underresourced, a lot higher rates of poverty and histories of trauma," Hamon said.
She advocated increased funding and resources.
"The investment in the park system as well as the youth centers I think will go a long way to create some more investments in areas of the city that have been long neglected," Hamon said.
Hamon suggested not just increasing police presence.
"Having more opportunities to connect with people versus scooching them from one part of a city to the other which, unfortunately, is what I think a lot of just increasing police presence in an area does," Hamon said.
OKC police have not connected any of these incidents and there are no suspects in custody for any of these crimes.
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