CRANBERRY TWP — The total number of calls handled by the township police department increased in 2018 with the types of calls showing various ebbs and flows, which officials say is par for the course.

According to data release by the department, officers responded to 20,247 total calls in 2018, compared with 19,207 calls the previous year. This equated to 841 total cases, down from 923 cases in 2017.

According to Sgt. Chuck Mascellino, that number includes everything from serious crimes to parking complaints. He said the increase is an average of what the department sees on a year-to-year basis.

The total number of Part I crimes increased from 378 to 385 in 2018. This included two homicides, which were registered in the township, including one that took place near the end of the year.

In that case, David W. Lohr, 51, was originally charged with felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and misdemeanor DUI high rate of alcohol first offense, DUI general impairment of driving safely first offense and reckless driving. The charges were filed following a Dec. 26 incident in which he allegedly struck a bicycle being ridden on Rochester Road by Aleksander Teimouri. Teimouri, 22, later died, and felony charges of criminal homicide, homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by a vehicle and a summary traffic offense were added.

In another case, Jessica A. Royall, 28, was charged with felony homicide, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, misdemeanor DUI, DUI highest rate, DUI controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person and several summary traffic offenses. The charges were filed after a March 23 incident in which Royall allegedly drove her Buick Rendezvous a half-mile with Ryan Minett, 27, of New Brighton, hanging from a luggage rack on the rear driver's side of the vehicle. He fell from the vehicle, striking a curb and a lamp post, and suffered injuries that resulted in his death the next day.

Other Part I crimes include rape (1), robbery (5), assault (17), burglary (14), larceny (338), vehicle theft (6) and arson (2).

Meanwhile, 2018 saw a decrease in Part II crimes, with the 888 cases nearly 300 fewer than the previous year.

The number of forgery (22), fraud (212), embezzlement (2), stolen property (122), vandalism (72), weapons (16), prostitution (4), sex offenses (15), drugs (55), family offenses (4), liquor (6), drunkenness (21) and disorderly (81) cases all decreased.

The number of DUI cases also decreased, from 151 in 2017 to 129 in 2018. Mascellino attributed that decrease to the popularity of ride share apps, such as Uber and Lyft.

“People are getting a little bit smarter, and they're not risking it,” he said.

A total of 2,524 citations were issued in 2018. Mascellino said that number increased by nearly 400 as the department employed a dedicated traffic unit for the entire year. However, officers also issued more citations — 3,278 — over the previous year.

“We don't use (traffic citations) as a revenue generator,” Mascellino said. “Sometimes a warning is a better method of getting across the point while not creating the negative effects.”

Overall, Mascellino said the number of arrestees with multiple cases is increasing, which brings down statistics. A total of 504 people were arrested in 2018, compared to 618 in 2017.

“We go through spurts where we'll have more people involve in multiple crimes,” he said. “Beyond that, everything is fairly consistent.”