Once every 1.5 days, a violent crime is committed in DeKalb, according to the DeKalb Police Department 2011 Annual Report.

Between 2007 and 2011, violent crimes increased from 191 to 234 instances per year.

“It’s no surprise to us that the rate of violent crime has increased,” said Julie Trevarthen, DeKalb County assistant state’s attorney. “We see it a lot sooner than the public sees it.”

Reports of aggravated battery and assault have increased since 2009, according to the report. Aggravated battery and assault cases have increased from 92 cases in 2009 to 141 cases in 2011, according to the report.

DeKalb Police Lt. Gary Spangler said aggravated battery and assault is a very “generic” category in the report and can include domestic battery, fights and other incidents. Due to the broad spectrum of this category, it’s hard to generalize why there is an increase in these crimes, Spangler said.

Some “noteworthy cases” of aggravated battery in the report include the April 5, 2011, shooting of NIU linebacker Devon Butler. Mark Orozco and Richard Van Arsdale, both of DeKalb, wwew charged in connection with Butler’s case with aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony, among other charges.

On Sept. 28, 2011, five people were arrested after a person was shot in the leg at the 900 block of Lucinda Avenue.

According to the report, “This incident stemmed from a drug deal set up between the victim and offenders.”

Of the five arrested, three were charged with aggravated battery with a firearm. All of the suspects were also charged with armed violence, a Class X felony.

On Nov. 23, 2011, Chaz Thrailkill, 19, of Markham, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with the death of NIU student Steven Agee in DeKalb.

However, the report stated overall cases involving deadly weapons actually decreased by 5 percent between 2010 and 2011.

In addition to aggravated battery and assault cases, sex offense and criminal sexual assault cases have also increased since 2009, Spangler said. Spangler said the reason for this increase is due to better advancements in technology.

In a Feb. 5 Northern Star brief, it was reported that Brian A. Cobb, 42, of Sycamore had been the subject of a police investigation which resulted in the warrant for his arrest on 29 counts of crimes ranging from child pornography, solicitation of child pornography, reproduction of child pornography, sexual exploitation of a child and solicitation to meet a child. Cobb was found dead in his home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police found Cobb’s body while attempting to serve the warrant at Cobb’s residence.

According to the report, sex offense cases increased by 77 percent between 2010 and 2011 and a sexual assault occurs once every eight days.