Small cities in Grant Co. see crime trending down

MOSES LAKE — The communities are smaller, so the incidents are fewer, and the percentage changes look more dramatic. But cities in Grant County mostly follow the same trend in declining crime as the rest of Washington.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs published its report on crime statistics and trends for 2023 last week. Most cities in Grant County submitted information, and the report includes the results for Quincy, Royal City, Soap Lake, Warden and Grand Coulee. 

Smaller sample sizes can have a big impact on the results, Royal City providing an example. The number of cases where people violated a no-contact or protection order increased from one 2022 to seven in 2024, an increase of 600%, although the actual cases averaged less than one per month.

Crime dropped in most cities across the county in most categories, but not all categories. Quincy saw an increase in aggravated assault cases, from six in 2022 to 15 in 2023. Three of those involved domestic violence. Robbery and burglary cases also increased in Quincy. Burglary cases increased from 49 to 65 in 2023, while robbery cases increased from three in 2022 to five in 2023. 

Simple assault cases in Quincy increased by one, to 92 in 2023. Reports of rape decreased by one, from five in 2022 to four. Three involved domestic violence. Intimidation cases went down, from nine in 2022 to seven in 2023. There was one kidnapping case in Quincy in 2023, which involved domestic violence. Larceny-theft cases dropped from 138 to 113 in 2023. Vehicle theft reports remained the same, with 42 reported in both years.

Quincy didn’t report any murders, arson or manslaughter cases.

Grand Coulee experienced an increase in no-contact order violations, from three in 2022 to 11. Seven involved domestic violence cases. There were two reports of rape in 2023; none were reported in 2022. 

Most other crime categories were trending down. Aggravated assaults dropped from three to one in 2023, and simple assaults dropped from 26 in 2022 to 23 in 2023. Burglary cases increased by one in 2023 to 12. Vehicle thefts decreased, from 15 in 2022 to five in 2023. Grand Coulee had no murders, kidnappings or manslaughter cases. There was one case of arson.

Royal City reported three arson cases in 2023, compared to none in 2022. There were increases in aggravated assault cases, from one to three in 2023, and simple assault cases, which increased from eight in 2022 to 22 in 2023. Larceny-theft cases also increased, from nine to 19 in 2023. Vehicle thefts decreased, from 13 to four in 2023. 

Royal City reported no murder, manslaughter or kidnapping cases. 

Crime trended down in Soap Lake almost across the board. Robberies increased to one in 2023, where there were none in 2022. 

Reports of aggravated assaults in Soap Lake dropped from seven to five in 2023; simple assaults went down from 33 in 222 to 11 in 2023. Burglaries dropped from 12 to nine in 2023. Violations of no-contact or protection orders dropped from 17 to four in 2023. Larceny-theft cases decreased from 39 to 34 in 2023. Vehicle thefts declined from 11 in 2022 to six in 2023.

Soap Lake reported no murders, rapes, arson, kidnapping or manslaughter cases in 2023.

Warden reported one kidnapping case in 2023, the same as 2022, and two rape cases, up one from 2022. Aggravated assaults increased, with three reported as compared to two in 2022. The city reported two robberies, up from none in 2022. There were eight reports of violation of a no-contact order, up from seven in 2022. 

Simple assault reports decreased, from 21 in 2022 to 13 in 2023. Larceny-theft cases dropped from 72 to 22 in 2023. Vehicle thefts dropped from 17 in 2022 to six in 2023. 

Warden had no murder, manslaughter, arson or kidnapping cases.

Quincy reported 27 DUI arrests; Grand Coulee reported 11 DUis, and Royal City reported four. Soap Lake reported 10 DUI arrests.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

Crime trends:

Quincy 2022-23

Murder 1-0
Rape 5-4
Arson 3-0
Aggravated assault 6-15
Simple Assault 91-92
Robbery 3-5
Burglary 49-65
Vehicle theft 42-42

Royal City 2022-23

Murder 0-0
Rape 1-1
Arson 0-3
Aggravated assault 1-3
Simple Assault 8-22
Robbery 0-0
Burglary 5-5
Vehicle theft 13-4

Soap Lake 2022-23

Murder 0-0
Rape 2-0
Arson 0-0
Aggravated assault 7-5
Simple Assault 33-11
Robbery 0-1
Burglary 12-9
Vehicle theft 11-6

Grand Coulee 2022-23

Murder 1-0
Rape 0- 2
Arson 1-1
Aggravated assault 3-1
Simple Assault 26-23
Robbery 0-0
Burglary 11-12
Vehicle theft 15-5

Warden 2022-23

Murder 0-0
Rape 1-2
Arson 0-0
Aggravated assault 2-3
Simple Assault 21-34
Robbery 0-2
Burglary 21-13
Vehicle theft 17-6