The Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement has released crime statistics for the January-to-July time period. The numbers are a mixed bag in Charlotte and Sarasota counties, with some violent crime up but overall crime down, consistent with statewide trends. Charlotte County saw a 12.9 percent drop in overall crime compared to the same six months last year while Sarasota County crime dropped 8.7 percent overall during the same comparison. At the city level, North Port’s crime rate dropped nearly five percent, Venice saw a 10.6 percent decline, and Punta Gorda led the way with a 30.7 percent decrease.