Date: Friday, December 13, 2019 9:05 pm
Location: 500 block of Claride Street
Incident: Capital Murder
Case Number: 1912130148

On Friday, December 13, 2019 at approximately 9:05 pm Corpus Christi Police Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Claride Street for a Burglary in Progress that was upgraded to a shooting. Upon arrival, responding officers made entry and immediately located three deceased males inside of the residence.

Homicide Detectives continued their investigation and on Saturday, December 14, 2019 Detectives were able to identify and obtain arrest warrants for two suspects. The suspects were located by our Gang Unit and were transported to the Corpus Christi Police Department to be interviewed by Detectives and were later transported to the City Detention Center for processing.

29-year-old Benjamin LeBleu was charged with 1 count of Capital Murder (Capital Felony), 1 count of Tampering with Evidence (3F), as well as an outstanding warrant for theft, bond amount totaling $2,052,500.

27-year-old Myles Dingman was charged with 1 count of Capital Murder (Capital Felony) and 1 count of Tampering with Evidence (3F), with a bond amount totaling $1,550,000. Myles was found to have narcotics in his possession at the time of the arrest and was additionally charged with Possession of Controlled Substance.

A person commits an offense of Capital Murder as defined by Section 19.02 (b)(1) if the person murders more than one person during the same criminal transaction.

This is still an active and ongoing investigation and no additional details are expected to be released at this moment. If you have any information pertaining to this incident, you are encouraged to call the Corpus Christi Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 361-886-2840. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and still provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=.

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At approximately 5:31 PM Officers were dispatched to the 5400 block of South Padre Island Drive, reference a possible shooter at the location. The initial reporting party noted that they overheard an individual saying there was someone shooting inside the mall, which caused concern that there may be an active shooter.  The caller noted that they did not themselves hear gun shots nor did they see anyone with a weapon of any sort.

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded accordingly and meticulously with the details they were initially provided with.

Additional callers reported that individuals were exiting from the location through emergency exits, which caused additional concern and panic.

Upon further investigation it was determined that the incident was not what it was originally believed to be and was a misunderstanding, resulting from a possible prank. There was never a shooter inside the mall, nor was anyone ever in danger.

Above all, we do want to thank the public for being alert and attentive and we are thankful that the call today was a false alarm in the end.  We thank our officers, who responded and ensured the safety of those on scene.

As with anything suspicious; if you see something, say something.

Date: Monday, September 09, 2019 03:32 A.M.
Location: 1800 block of Sherman
Offense: Murder
Case Number: 1909090014

On September 09, 2019 at approximately 3:32 AM officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of Sherman for a shooting with injuries. Upon arrival, officers made contact with 36-year-old Jason Herrera, who has sustained life-threatening injuries. Jason Herrera was transported to Christus Spohn Shoreline where he later succumb from his injuries.

Through their investigation and with the help of tips from the public; Detectives identified a suspect and obtained a Murder Warrant for 38-year-old Gerardo Cortez. Gerardo Cortez was arrested on November 21, 2019 by Corpus Christi Police Officers and was later transported to the Nueces County Jail on the Murder Warrant ($500,000 Bond). Gerardo was also arrested for three separate outstanding warrants from a prior offense for Burglary of Habitation Warrant ($100,000), Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity ($100,00) and Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon ($75,000). Gerardo Cortez was additionally charged with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit for a separate incident.

Corpus Christi Police Detectives need your help identifying this vehicle and the owner or driver of this vehicle in these still images. The vehicle was observed in immediate the area of the residence right before the shooting took place. Detectives believe that they may have information about the homicide and need to speak to them.

This is still an active investigation and if anyone has any additional information, they are urged to contact Homicide Detectives at (361) 886-2840. You may also call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/index.htm. Information provided to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

For information regarding the incident:
https://ccpdblotter.com/2019/10/29/help-us-solve-a-murder

Date: November 19, 2019
Location: Ocean and Shore
Offense: UUMV, Evading Arrest, Possession of Marijuana
Case Number: 1911190013, 1911200004

At approximately 11 pm on November 19, 2019 officers were dispatched to a car lot located on the 3000 block of SPID for a report of a stolen vehicle.

On November 19, 2019 members of the Corpus Christi Police Department Auto Theft Task Force worked alongside patrol officers to try and track down these subjects that have been stealing and burglarizing vehicles.

At approximately 9 pm Patrol Officers spotted the stolen vehicle driving in the area of Ocean and Shore and were able to identify two of the males in the stolen vehicle as known auto theft suspects. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle by effecting a traffic stop, noting that the driver made no attempt to stop and intentionally fled from the fully marked police units. Due to the unsafe speeds of the driver and not wanting to place the public in danger, officers opted not to pursue.

A short time later officers located the vehicle abandoned and unoccupied. Officers on scene were able to gather information that several males were seen running west through the neighborhood jumping fences. Officers set up a perimeter and a short time later were able to identify a vehicle in the area as a family member of one of the suspects. Officers effected a traffic stop and located 17-year-old Ernest Rodriguez and 17-year-old Ryan Lopez and in the vehicle along with another juvenile male.

17-year-old Ernest Rodriguez was charged with Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest with a vehicle. 17-year-old Ryan Lopez was charged with possession of marijuana. A 15-year-old male was released on scene.

This is still an active investigation and if anyone has any additional information, they are asked to contact the Corpus Christi Police Department Auto Theft Task Force at (361) 886-2874. You may also call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/index.htm. Information provided to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

Date: October 23, 2019, 11:30 pm
Location: 5700 Curtis Clark Dr
Offense: Burglary of a Building
Case Number: 1910230099

Corpus Christi Property Crimes Detectives would like help from the public to identify a suspect who is believed to be involved in a Burglary of a Building on the 5700 block of Curtis Clark.

The reporting party advised that he walked out of his apartment and found the door to his storage unit to be unsecured. Upon entry to the building, the reporting party discovered that a road bike ($6,500), welder ($300) and shop vacuum ($80) were missing.

If you know who is responsible, or have any additional information about this Burglary, call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888tips.com. If the information you provide leads to an arrest, it can earn you a cash reward.

Did you know that we offer prior military five (5) additional veteran points on their civil service exam?

Did you know that we offer 240 hours per year for military time, for those who are active reservists? That is in addition to the vacation, sick, personal and comp time officers already accrue.

Did you know that Corpus Christi Police Department currently has 160 Police Officers that have prior military service? We currently have an additional 20 officers that are active reservists.

Call one of our recruiters at (361) 886-2626, they can help you start the process and answer any questions you may have.

In order to qualify for the 5 veteran points, applicants must pass with a minimum of 70% and achieve the cut-off score (if set).

Only an “Honorable” discharge will qualify the applicant for the five (5) veteran points (given to applicant if they receive 70% or better on the written exam). The Honorable discharge must have occurred prior to the entrance exam. “General (under honorable conditions)” allows the applicant to take the test but will not qualify the applicant to be eligible to receive the veteran points. A DD-214 long form (member #4) must be received on or before the written exam date in order to receive veteran points.

Investigators want your help to discover any new information that will help catch a murder suspect, with this Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week.

At approximately 11:50 pm on Sunday, November 13, 2016 Officers were dispatched to the 5900 block of Weber reference a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 19-year-old Christopher Colton Cavazos deceased from a gunshot wound.

This is the 3rd anniversary of the death of Colton and we want to give his family some closure.

Police have obtained surveillance video of a vehicle that was on the scene before the shooting, the driver is considered a person of interest.

If you know who is responsible, or have any additional information about this murder, call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/index.htm. Information to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn you $2,500 in cash and Crime Stoppers will never let anyone know your identity.

Video clip of the vehicle: https://youtu.be/L1eRXEXivu4

Update 9:50 pm: Christian has been found. Thank you for your assistance.

Corpus Christi Police Department needs your help to locate the whereabouts of a missing child. 9-year-old Christian Roel Acuna has been reported missing on today’s date. Christian was last seen at approximately 6:30 pm in the area of the 5400 block of Wooldridge. Christian was last seen traveling west on Wooldridge. Anyone that has seen Christian or knows his whereabouts, please contact 911 immediately. Neighbors in the area are asked to please check their doorbell or surveillance cameras for any sightings of Christian.

Christian is described as a 9-year-old male, who stands 4 feet 2 inches, weighs approximately 50 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Christian was last seen wearing a gray shirt with a Batman logo, gray shorts and was barefoot.

The Corpus Christi Police Department asks that anyone who may have any additional information about the whereabouts of Christian is asked to contact the Corpus Christi Police Department by calling either 911 or 886-2600.

Nueces County Sheriffs Office is asking for your help to locate 34-year-old Solomon Johnson who has two outstanding warrants out of Nueces County for Burglary of Habitation ($180,000 Bond) and for a Parole Violation stemming from an Evading Arrest Charge (No Bond).

Johnson is described as a 34-year-old male who stands 6′ 00″, weighs approximately 165 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and is known to have facial hair.

If you know how to locate Solomon Johnson, call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=, it can earn you a cash reward. The information you provide to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward. You may also contact the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office at 887-2239 or 887-2219 after 5:00 pm.

Corpus Christi Police Officers received a copy of this video, which depicts a female assaulting a minor child. The child in the video appears to be a 2 or 3-year-old female. This video appeared in a local closed group on social media, but we are unsure if this video originated within the City of Corpus Christi.

We are attempting to locate the identity of the female in this video.

We have blurred out the image of the minor child for her protection. If anyone has any information on the identity or the whereabouts of the female in this video, please call 911 immediately. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or online at
https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=.