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OGDEN, Utah -
Call it a case of bad timing. Ogden's mayor called a news conference to announce a drop in the city's violent crime rate a short time before police responded to a shooting at a home here. It was the second shooting they'd responded to at the same address within 24 hours. Police are also investigating an armed robbery at a local business.
"Crime is half what it was 10 years ago and we're eighth in the state for crime," Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey trumpeted at a news conference on Tuesday.
Citing FBI statistics, Godfrey claimed that if you broke down the numbers by population, Ogden's violent and property crime rate is actually lower than Park City. Those same figures listed the tiny ski resort town of Brian Head as one of the top crime capitols in Utah, Godfrey conceded.
Still, crime has dropped significantly in Ogden. Police Chief Jon Greiner attributes that to a "get tough" policy he's implemented. Special police squads have been cracking down on high-crime neighborhoods. They've involved the community and taken a zero tolerance approach. Greiner said as a result, it's made life uncomfortable for criminals, who are subsequently leaving town.
"I apologize to my neighbors," Godfrey said of neighboring communities. "But it's not my job to worry about criminals moving into their community. It's about them moving out of mine."
Ironically, within the same 24-hour period that Godfrey made his announcement, there was an armed robbery at a check cashing business on 12th Street and a pair of shootings. Police said the first shooting happened Monday night at a home on the 2200 block of Jackson Avenue, after a man got into a confrontation with two men at a nearby convenience store.
He left, driving his three children to the home. Police said the man was followed and when he pulled into the driveway, a passenger leaned out the window and opened fire -- nearly killing the children. A bullet hit the car. No one was wounded, Ogden Police Lt. Scott Conley said.
About 30 minutes after Godfrey's news conference ended, a group of people were seen gathered outside the same home. Police said one opened fire, shooting about five rounds. The gunman fled, Conley said. No one was hurt.
"It's in direct retaliation for the shooting last night," Conley said.
Police officers were seen going door-to-door looking for the suspect, who ran off. Conley said detectives believe they know who the man is and are actively searching for him.
Godfrey believes that Ogden, which has been publicized nationally for its outdoors and workforce, is suffering from an image problem that it's a crime-plagued city. He claims the statistics show it's not nearly as dangerous as other cities. Asked about the latest crimes, Godfrey and Greiner proudly pointed out that the police caught their men.
"In every Mayberry there's crime," Godfrey told reporters. "The issue is how do you reduce it, get ahead of it, and once it occurs, how do you catch them quickly."
FOX 13's Kirk Yuhnke has the latest.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
"Crime is half what it was 10 years ago and we're eighth in the state for crime," Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey trumpeted at a news conference on Tuesday.
Citing FBI statistics, Godfrey claimed that if you broke down the numbers by population, Ogden's violent and property crime rate is actually lower than Park City. Those same figures listed the tiny ski resort town of Brian Head as one of the top crime capitols in Utah, Godfrey conceded.
Still, crime has dropped significantly in Ogden. Police Chief Jon Greiner attributes that to a "get tough" policy he's implemented. Special police squads have been cracking down on high-crime neighborhoods. They've involved the community and taken a zero tolerance approach. Greiner said as a result, it's made life uncomfortable for criminals, who are subsequently leaving town.
"I apologize to my neighbors," Godfrey said of neighboring communities. "But it's not my job to worry about criminals moving into their community. It's about them moving out of mine."
Ironically, within the same 24-hour period that Godfrey made his announcement, there was an armed robbery at a check cashing business on 12th Street and a pair of shootings. Police said the first shooting happened Monday night at a home on the 2200 block of Jackson Avenue, after a man got into a confrontation with two men at a nearby convenience store.
He left, driving his three children to the home. Police said the man was followed and when he pulled into the driveway, a passenger leaned out the window and opened fire -- nearly killing the children. A bullet hit the car. No one was wounded, Ogden Police Lt. Scott Conley said.
About 30 minutes after Godfrey's news conference ended, a group of people were seen gathered outside the same home. Police said one opened fire, shooting about five rounds. The gunman fled, Conley said. No one was hurt.
"It's in direct retaliation for the shooting last night," Conley said.
Police officers were seen going door-to-door looking for the suspect, who ran off. Conley said detectives believe they know who the man is and are actively searching for him.
Godfrey believes that Ogden, which has been publicized nationally for its outdoors and workforce, is suffering from an image problem that it's a crime-plagued city. He claims the statistics show it's not nearly as dangerous as other cities. Asked about the latest crimes, Godfrey and Greiner proudly pointed out that the police caught their men.
"In every Mayberry there's crime," Godfrey told reporters. "The issue is how do you reduce it, get ahead of it, and once it occurs, how do you catch them quickly."
FOX 13's Kirk Yuhnke has the latest.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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