All posts by Senior Officer Julia Hernandez-Garcia

Criminal Investigations Division

Suspect Arrested in the Murder of Michael Olivarez

At 4:35 a.m. on August 30th, 2011, Corpus Christi Police Department Officers responded to the 5800 block of Crestmore for a man down call. Upon their arrival, Officers found Michael Olivarez, 40, lying in the roadway dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

At 10:24 a.m., Officers responded to the 7200 S. Padre Island Drive for reports of a disturbance, which turned into a report of a stolen vehicle.  During the investigation Officers discovered the stolen vehicle was connected to the murder of Olivarez.

Later the same day, Homicide/Robbery Detectives recovered the stolen vehicle at an apartment complex on the South side of Corpus Christi.

Through further investigation, Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detectives were able to identify two suspects and obtained warrants for their arrest on August 31, 2011.

A Murder warrant was issued for Miguel Del Toro Jr. (02/15/86), while an Aggravated Sexual Assault warrant was issued for Christina Turner (12/12/83).

On September 2, 2011, at approximately 1:40 pm, Del Toro and Turner were arrested in the 4900 block of Curtis Clark by the Corpus Christi Police Department S.W.A.T. Team and the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders & Fugitive Task Force without incident.  They were both taken to the Corpus Christi Police Department Criminal Investigation Division for questioning.  They were then transported and booked at the CDC.

Del Toro was charged with the outstanding warrant for Murder.  His bond is set at $500,000.  Homicide/Robbery Detectives are still investigating Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Sexual Assault, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (Stolen Vehicle).

Turner was charged with the outstanding warrant for Aggravated Sexual Assault.  Her bond is set at $250,000.

Delta District

10-year-old Threatens to Stab Elder

Thu/6:47 p.m.    Aggravated Assault    2619 Alamo    1109010139

Officers responded to several calls for juveniles involved in various forms of mischief in the area of Baldwin, Port, and Tarlton.  The youths were seen breaking piñatas, along with yelling and threatening citizens in the area.  A 58-year-old passerby told the boys to leave, but was threatened by a 10-year-old juvenile.  The juvenile pulled a knife out and told the victim he was going to stab him. Officers located the juvenile exiting the H.E.B. at Port and Tarlton and detained him. He was postively identified by the victim and released to his mother.   The investigation is ongoing.

Delta District

Customer Arrested After Making Street Buy

Thu/6:34 p.m.   Possession of a Controlled Substance   1800 Van Loan    1109010130

An Officer following up on several complaints of possible drug being sold in the area of Van Loan and Nueces observed a 22-year-old Black male talking to the driver of a green 2000 Plymouth Neon in the middle of the roadway.  The Black male was standing with his hand inside the open driver’s side window.  As the Officer drove up, the two males parted company.  As Robert Medina (11/26/56) drove away, he was pulled over for a traffic violation.  Medina began to have trouble breathing as he nervously kept grabbing at his pack of cigarettes.  Further investigation revealed the pack of cigarettes contained 11 rocks of Crack Cocaine.  Medina was arrested and booked at the CDC.  He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.  The vehicle was released to the 62-year-old passenger and owner of the vehicle.

Adam District

Drunken Brawler Threatens to Kill Arresting Officers

Fri/12:12 a.m.  Public Intoxication/Retaliation   10514 Leopard        1109020006 

Officers responded to a large fight at Big Sam’s involving several customers.  Officers arrived to find Matthew Lee Franco (09/21/88) being pulled to his vehicle by his co-worker.  The friend told Officers Franco was intoxicated and had been in a fight with another male in the bar.  He was taking Franco home to keep him out of trouble.  Franco refused to listen to his friend or the Officers and became very belligerent and combative.  Franco continued to struggle and threaten to kill Officers while being handcuffed.  He was transported and booked at the CDC.  Franco was charged Public Intoxication, Resisting Arrest, and Retaliation.

Charlie District

Convenience Store Robbery Suspect Sought

Corpus Christi Homicide/Robbery Bureau Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a suspect involved in the robbery of the Valero Store at 5646 Kostoryz on August 26, 2011.

Shortly before 9:00 am, Officers contacted the distraught 50-year-old store manager who reported a Black male rushed behind the counter and ordered her to open the register.  The male grabbed the cash from the open register and fled northbound on Holly Road taking with him an undetermined amount of money.  The store manager was uninjured during the robbery.

The suspect is described as a Black male, 20 years of age, 5’8” to 6’1” feet tall and weighing 160 to 220 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a black do-rag, a white t-shirt, and shorts.

Please see attached photographs.  Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Bureau.

Criminal Investigations Division

Graffiti Vandals in Corpus Christi are Held Accountable

The criminal justice system is sending a strong message to juvenile graffiti offenders in Corpus Christi.  The message is that they will be held accountable for the graffiti vandalism they commit.  One of the largest tagging crews comprised of juvenile graffiti vandals in Corpus Christi has had three of its members processed through the juvenile criminal justice system in the last few weeks.  

On August 29, 2011, a 16-year-old member of this local tagging crew appeared before Judge Brent Chesney in County Court of Law No. 5 and pleads “true” to vandalizing property at a local mall.  

This 16-year-old along with Robert Pina (06/11/94) were arrested on July 21, 2011 after they were suspected of etching the acronym of their tagging crew on the mirrors of two men’s restrooms and the elevator doors of a the mall, causing nearly $20,000 in damages.  

Judge Chesney sentenced the juvenile offender to 15 months of intensive-supervision probation, to be served mostly at the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center Boot Camp.  

Last month, Judge Chesney also sentenced another 16 year old graffiti vandal from the same tagging crew to probation and ordered him to pay $8,700 in restitution.  This juvenile offender was suspected of vandalizing 45 properties with graffiti from June 2010 until the time he was identified, and arrested. 

A third 16-year-old graffiti vandal from the same tagging crew was arrested last week by police detectives and Corpus Christi Independent School District Police on a Directive to Apprehend at a local high school.   It is currently pending a court hearing.  This juvenile offender is suspected of vandalizing more than 60 properties with graffiti over a one year period. 

His criminal activity came to an end when was identified and arrested by Officers in March of 2011 for spray-painting graffiti at the vacant hospital building on Tarlton St.  The Directive to Apprehend was issued for ten properties which he vandalized with graffiti, including highway overpass exit signs on SH 286 and an electronic message board that was placed on the 4100 block of S. Staples St.

Delta District

CCPD’s Monthly “No Insurance” Auction Scheduled for September 3rd

The Corpus Christi Police Department’s commitment to “Keep Corpus Christi Safe” has continued with its “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative”.    31 percent of the vehicles to be auctioned are “No Insurance” impounds.

On Saturday, September 3, 2011, a total of 62 cars and 2 motorcycles will be auctioned at the Corpus Christi Police Department Vehicle Impound Lot located at 2600 Holly Road during our monthly auction. Approximately 20 of these vehicles are “No Insurance” impounds. On Friday, September 2, 2011, the general public will be allowed to register and view the vehicles to be auctioned from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no registration fee. On the day of the auction, the general public can continue to register and view the vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  The auction will commence promptly at 10:00 a.m. The vehicles to be auctioned can be viewed at www.siskauction.com. An auction list may also be downloaded from the same website. 

The department’s strong stand and enforcement of this “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative” will continue and all vehicles involved in accidents will be impounded and the driver cited if they are unable to provide financial proof of insurance. Driver’s license and proof of financial responsibility checkpoints will continue to be conducted at the Shift Captains’ authorization.  

Officers have impounded a total of 867 vehicles solely for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility since January 1, 2011.  Of those impounded vehicles, 81 were impounded during August 2011.  

As of March 1, 2011, the towing fees have changed. The owner of the vehicle will be charged an impound tow fee of $153.30 plus a storage fee of $21.65 per day thereafter.

 

Delta District

Two Sisters Arrested After Family Brawl

3:56 p.m.       Assault         1613 Sycamore Place       1108280114

An Officer patrolling his district observed a female waving her hands in the air and pointing down the street towards a vehicle parked in the middle of the road with its doors flung wide open.  Next to the vehicle was a group of males and females involved in an all out brawl in front of 1613 Sycamore Place.

The Officer drove up to find two females punching and shoving three males.  Through further investigation, Officers were able to determine the fight was between Lauren Cavazos (06/10/92) and the 19-year-old father of her child over a set of keys.  The boyfriend wouldn’t turn over the set of house keys and Lauren Lindsey began to assault him in an attempt to force him to turn the keys over.  The victim’s two brothers tried to stop the fight, but were jumped by Lauren’s sister Lindsey Lea Cavazos (09/18/90).    Lauren’s boyfriend attempted to leave in the vehicle when he was pulled out of his vehicle by the sisters.

During the struggle, Lauren was pushed by one of the brothers.  Both sisters attacked the 21-year-old brother until the Officer was able to break up the fight.  Both sisters were arrested and booked at the CDC.  Lindsey Lea and Lauren Cavazos were both charged with Assault.  The 19-year-old had minor injuries, but refused medical attention.  All three men refused to file charges on the two women.  Lauren’s mother took custody of the infant child.

Delta District

Pedacyclist Sustains Minor Injuries When Struck Crossing Roadway

4:00 p.m.         Traffic Accident     5200 S. Staples     C1106199

Officers responding to an accident found the 44-year-old cyclist was crossing in the middle of the roadway without assistance of a green light and struck by a black 2004 Mazda Tribute SV.  The cyclist sustained minor injuries and transported to Spohn Memorial for medical treatment.  The damaged gasoline-powered bicycle was taken to the cyclist’s home by Officers.  No one has been cited at this time.

Delta District

Bar Patron Stabbed, Flees Along with Suspect

11:25 p.m.                      Aggravated Assault                                 705 S. Port                                  1108280128

At 5:15 pm, Officers were dispatched to Mica’s Lounge for a stabbing, but while en route they were advised, both the victim and the suspects had fled the bar.  Officers contacted witnesses who reported several males entered the bar and they began to physically attack several of the patrons.  During the altercation, one of the suspects broke a beer bottle over the head of one victim and stabbed another victim in the abdomen with the same beer bottle. A bartender told Officers all the parties involved are regular customers and know one another.  Later in the evening, Officers contacted a walk-in stabbing victim at Spohn Shoreline who reported he was stabbed at Mica’s Lounge when he tried to stop a fight.  The victim told Officers a Hispanic male, 5’1” to 5’3” feet tall, and short black hair stabbed him with a broken beer bottle.    The victim was unable to provide any other additional information.  Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Bureau at 361-886-2841.