DETROIT — In another blow to the Motor City's tarnished image, Detroit pushed past St. Louis to become the nation's most dangerous city, according to a private research group's controversial analysis, released Sunday, of annual FBI crime statistics.

Last year's crime leader, St. Louis, fell to No. 2. Another Michigan city, Flint, ranked third [with credit due, undoubtedly, to the "Nacho Libre" robber], followed by Oakland, Calif.; Camden, N.J.; Birmingham, Ala.; North Charleston, S.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Richmond, Calif.; and Cleveland. Denver was the 87th-most dangerous city.