Since classes started Aug. 25, the number of students in Norman and the incidence of violent crimes in the city have increased sharply, but a spokesman for the Norman Police Department said he thinks the surge in violent crimes are coincidental.

Norman Police Capt. Leonard Judy said he does not think the recent violences, which include a murder and the stabbings of two OU athletes, show that Norman is increasing in violence.

“Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason,” he said.

Judy said he did not think the recent incidents were connected to OU classes being in session because, even in the summer when many students are away from Norman, the city’s population is still relatively large.

According to 2007 Benchmark Cities Survey data, there were 195 Part I Violent Crimes in Norman in 2007. Part I Violent crimes include aggravated assault and battery, homicide, rape and robbery.

Norman is one of 21 cities around the country that participated in the Benchmark Cities Survey. Broken Arrow and Edmond are the other two Oklahoma cities that participated.

Lincoln, Neb., the home of the University of Nebraska, and Boulder, Colo., the home of the University of Colorado, also participated in the survey.

The survey is done voluntarily by several cities with similar demographics, said Gerald Tallman, the survey’s crime analysis unit manager.

Tallman said the survey’s data is meant to help the participating police departments improve.

“We’re actually looking for somebody who’s more successful than us, so we can go pick their brains,” he said.

The average number of Part I Violent Crimes per 1,000 citizens in 2007 in Norman was 1.8, according to the survey. Of the 21 cities surveyed, only three cities had a lower number of violent crimes, one of which was Edmond.

Lincoln, Nebraska had the highest number of violent crimes among the 21 cities.

In the past month alone, however, there have been four incidents involving weapons, like guns, knives and tire irons, in Norman.

On Aug. 28, police arrested Juan Yanez-Escobedo, 34, and booked him into the Cleveland County Detention Center on a charge of first degree murder in relation to the stabbing death of Sofia Montelongo, 27, a Norman Super 8 Motel employee.

Police found Montelongo in one of the motel’s rooms with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to Norman Regional Hospital, where she died of stab wounds.

Then on August 31, three people, including OU defensive end Frank Alexander and OU men’s basketball guard Ray Willis, were injured during an altercation at a club located at 1309 S.W. 24th Avenue. All three injured people were treated and released, and Norman police are still investigating the incident, Judy said.

The two most recent violent incidents occurred on Sept. 21.

A fight between two men in which both sustained stabbing or cutting wounds, occurred the morning of the 21 at the 1600 block of Claudia Drive in Norman.

Police arrested one of the men, Michael Aaron Lawson, 25, on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, Judy said.

The second incident occurred later in the night of Sept. 21, Judy said. William L. Haskell received a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the arm.

Police arrested Joshua Dean Driskell, 23, and Christopher Allen Spurlin, 22, and booked both into the Cleveland County Jail, each on a charge of shooting with intent to kill. Spurlin was also charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun and possession of marijuana.

Judy said the Norman Police Department is constantly working to prevent violent crimes. These efforts include educating people and employing preventative patrol officers, especially at large events, Judy said.

“We are always concerned about violent crime and crimes against persons,” Judy said.

Judy said he cannot explain why there have been four violent crime incidents in the last month.

“Sometimes it just defies explanation,” he said.