Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams said he is "aware and disappointed" after a WRAL Investigates story showed the number of crimes committed in western Wake County by people with Durham addresses is on the rise.

From 2019 through September 2024, arrest data from the Wake County Sheriff's Office and police from Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville saw a 35% increase in charges against people from Durham.

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That's compared to a 15% increase for all charges in the entire county over the same time frame.

Williams sat down with WRAL Investigates after Monday’s story aired.

"I know that there are numbers that we can look at, but I think that this story is bigger than the numbers," Williams said. "I think the title (of the online story) of it was very divisive.

"I think the title of it portrays that Durham is a problem when no one else is."

Drilling down further, Cary and Morrisville have experienced the biggest impact of crimes committed by people from Durham – up 150% in Cary since 2019 and up 65% in Morrisville.

While not questioning the facts of the story, Williams was more concerned with the tone.

"So, perception is very important … and … I don't think this is a time to sensationalize, and I felt that's what the story did," Williams said.

When it comes to crime, Williams said there’s a bigger picture that he wishes got more of the focus.

"You can always cherry-pick whatever angle you want to do," Williams said. "And, I felt this is a very cherry-picked approach, but it totally ignores the bigger picture. And the most important question is 'why is it happening?'"

When asked if the numbers are a reflection of Durham as a whole, Williams said no.

"It reflects a bit about that person, and that's what we have," Williams said. "We have to remain focused on what is actually important, because where this person is from matters less than what this person did, and that is the question: 'Why did it happen?'"

For his part, Williams said he's focusing on investing in the community’s youth to create positive change, not just for his city, but the entire Triangle.

"We can't control if an individual who lives in Durham or Raleigh or wherever else, decides to go and commit a crime, but crime happens, and I'm not going to pretend that that's not a reality anywhere in this country, not just Durham, but anywhere," Williams said.

Williams also posted to the social media platform X, writing:

"I'm aware and disappointed at the @wral Investigative story 'Why Durham Crime is Creeping into Wake County Neighborhoods' and the despicable angle taken at our city. Durham's story is ours to tell, and we won’t let it be misrepresented. Implicit bias too often divides communities, but we won’t allow that in the Bull City."

WRAL Investigates also contacted Durham police about the findings prior to Monday’s story airing.

In an email response, the agency wrote, "The Durham Police Department consistently works with neighboring law enforcement agencies when conducting criminal investigations and sharing criminal intelligence information."

After Monday’s story aired, Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews sent in email to WRAL Investigates, saying, "As a proud resident of Durham and the Chief of Police, I am appalled by the investigative piece that aired [Monday] night … Your reporting left a negative impact during an already divisive time."

WRAL Investigates asked Andrews for an interview to discuss her concerns with the story. She did not respond.

Three men from Durham face charges after a shooting on Oct. 26 in the parking lot of a crowded Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh

Two Durham men are charged in connection with a series of break-ins at homes in Cary.

Over the summer, a Durham man, Phillip Brewer is accused of leading police on a chase in Wake County after he attempted to steal from a Walmart in Wake Forest.

Mayor Williams told WRAL News he's planning to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss a number of issues dividing Durham.