A slight drop in crime in Charlotte County, a slight hike in Sarasota County. New numbers today from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show the overall crime rate dropped three-point-two percent in Charlotte County over 2011 figures. The most notable decrease in crime came in Punta Gorda, where the crime rate dropped over fifteen percent, the most signifiant drop in a decade. Area law enforcement officials say the illegal use of narcotics continues to fuel much of the crime along the Sun Coast.
