KRDO NewsChannel 13 (Colorado Springs): The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t have data connecting crimes related to marijuana because of a record system issue.

With the help of Metro VNI and the DEA last year El Paso County deputies served more than 100 search warrants to combat illegal marijuana cultivation and distribution.

“That crime in and of itself is obvious as to what happened when we legalized marijuana,” Lt. Bill Huffor with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said.

Huffor said other crimes in El Paso County, beyond growing what’s allowed are connected to marijuana.

Like a homicide and a shooting that left an El Paso County deputy injured last July.

“We know we’ve had an increase in crime related to marijuana but we need to do a better job, and I think we’re on the right track, of gathering good data and using it to our advantage,” Huffor said.

KRDO NewsChannel 13 reported in August how the sheriff’s office was going to collect data to prove what they’ve talked about for years, the claim legalizing recreational marijuana has increased crime.

Visit KRDO NewsChannel 13 for more.