All posts by Senior Officer Julia Hernandez-Garcia

Charlie District

Two Drivers Taken to Local Hospitals After Head-On Collision

Occurred on 01/14/13, 8:10am   Major Traffic Accident   6400 Weber  C1300310

Police were called to the 6400 block of Weber Road for a head-on collision. The Officers’ investigation revealed a black Lexus driven by a 59 year-old man was headed southbound on Weber when he drifted  into the northbound lane and struck a tan Sierra pick-up truck driven by a 62-year-old woman.

The Lexus bounced off the truck and struck a black Ford Expedition head-on.  The SUV was driven by a 40-year-old woman who was accompanied by a 5-year-old child.

The driver of the Lexus was seriously injured and taken to Spohn Memorial, while the driver pick-up was taken to Bay Area Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The occupants of the Expedition were advised CCFD Emergency Personnel they would seek their own medical treatment.

The investigation is being conducted by the Traffic and Safety Division and no charges have been filed at this time.  The preliminary investigation leads Officers to believe the driver of the Lexus suffered a medical condition.

Community Outreach

Cold Weather Escalates Search for Missing Man

eric barnes January 14 2013Occurred on 1/13/13, 10:06am  Missing Person  2606 Hospital Blvd.  1301130047

The Corpus Christi Police Department is asking the public’s assistance in locating a man reported missing on January 13, 2013.  The man’s brother told Police he visited with his brother Eric Phillip Barnes, 44, on January 4, 2013 at a local hospital.

Barnes was released later that day and the family has been searching for him since.  His brother told Officers that Eric suffers from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and mental issues.  Eric is in need of his oxygen and medications.

If you have seen Eric or know his whereabouts, we ask that you call Homicide/Robbery Detective R.L. Garcia at 361-886-2850 or the Corpus Christi Police Department at 361-886-2600.

***UPDATE*** Mr. Barnes has been located and is doing well. We would like to thank everyone in the community for their assistance.

 

Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Masked Gunman Robs IBC Bank

 

Occurred on 1/13/13, 12:10pm  Aggravated Robbery  4622 Everhart Road  13011300

Police were called to the IBC Bank at 4622 Everhart Road for a bank robbery.  Officers contacted store employees who advised a Hispanic male walked into the bank armed with a firearm and ordered the bank tellers to turn over their money.  The man took an undetermined amount of money and ran out the bank towards Burney Drive.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 24 to 30 years of age, 5’9” to 5’11” feet tall and weighing 140 to 150 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie and the lower portion of his face was covered with a green piece of material.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com .  A cash reward will be paid if the suspect is arrested.

Delta District

Woman Attacks Officer with Cell Phone

lagaythawilliamsOccurred on 1/11/13, 12:48 am  Interference with Public Duties        1418 Craig      1301110005

Police were called to 1418 Craig Street for an assault in progress.  Upon their arrival, Officers could see a woman yelling and screaming in front of the home.  Lagaytha Williams (10/12/59) appeared intoxicated and began ordering the Officers to leave as they tried to make their way inside the residence where more shouting could be heard.

Williams grabbed one of the Officers and swung at him with her cell phone, striking him in the eye.  The Officers were able to go around her and make it inside the home where they found two men arguing.  As the Officers separated the men, Williams again attacked the Officer she’d hit earlier.

Williams was tased and arrested.   She was booked at the City Detention Center and charged with Interference with Public Duties and Resisting Arrest.

Adam District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Do You Know This Computer Thief? Call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS

Occurred on 1/10/13, 2:06pm   Theft  6364 Hopkins Road  1301100094

Police were called to the CCC Group Office for the theft of a $1,600 laptop computer.  They were told a man entered the business supposedly looking for a job, but took off with a laptop computer instead.  He drove off in blue four-door vehicle.

The suspect is described as  a White male, 20 to 30 years of age and weighing 160 to 200 lbs.  He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie and a baseball cap.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com .   Callers will received a cash reward if the suspect is arrested or the property recovered.

Community Outreach

City Road Closures for January 12 ~ January 18, 2013

Contributed by Charlie Cardenas, P.E., Traffic Engineering

New – Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street Intersection

Monday – Friday

During the week of January 14, 2013 and for approximately five weeks, the intersection of Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street will be closed for major utility work.

Schatzell Street:  From Shoreline Boulevard, Schatzell Street westbound traffic will be detoured onto Water Street.

In addition, Schatzell Street will be closed to through traffic between Water Street and Mesquite Street.  Parking will be permitted on this section of Schatzell.

Chaparral Street:  Chaparral Street will become a two-way traffic between Lawrence Street and Schatzell Street where parking will be allowed on this section of the Chaparral.  Motorists are cautioned to be aware of those vehicles that are entering and exiting this section of Chaparral at the Lawrence Street intersection.

McBride Lane (Between Leopard Street and IH-37 Eastbound Frontage Road)

Monday – Friday James Street and Erin Drive:  Erin Drive will be closed at the McBride intersection.  Access to James Street and Erin Drive will be through the IH-37 frontage road and both streets – James and Erin – will be closed to through traffic.

McBride Lane:  McBride Lane will be closed to traffic between IH-37 frontage road and Hampshire Road.  Eastbound traffic on IH-37 frontage road will be detour onto to southbound Navigation Boulevard, onto westbound Leopard Street, to McBride Lane.   Traffic on McBride Lane will be detoured onto westbound Hampshire Road to South Padre Island Drive.

Kostoryz Road

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Northbound Kostoryz Road traffic will be shifted onto the southbound lanes between S.P.I.D. and Sunnybrook Road, and again shifted onto the northbound lanes approximately 500 feet past Sunnybrook.  Traffic, on these two sections of Kostoryz Road, will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction.   In addition, traffic on eastbound McArdle Road will be shifted onto the westbound lane where traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the Kostoryz Road intersection.

New – Staples Street (Williams Street to Saratoga Boulevard)

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Wooldridge Road:  The Wooldridge Road traffic will be shifted onto the westbound lanes and traffic will be reduced to one through lane in each direction through the Staples Street Intersection.

Staples Street:  Contractors will shift the southbound Staples Street traffic and reduce it to one through lane in each direction from the Moore Plaza entrance through the Williams Drive intersection.  Southbound drivers will have dedicated right and left turn lanes at Williams Drive.  Northbound drivers will have a dedicated right turn lane at Williams Drive but “No Left Turns” will be permitted.

On Staples Street, from Wooldridge Road to north of Holly Road, there are two lanes of traffic open in each direction.  Staples Street traffic, between Cain Drive and Bonner Drive, will be shifted onto the northbound lanes and traffic reduced to one through lane in each direction.

Cain Drive:  Cain Drive is closed at the intersection of Staples Street.  Traffic detours will be through Burton Lane to Holly Road.

Sarazen Drive:  Contractors will permit only inbound traffic to enter Sarazen from Staples Street, and traffic exiting must continue north on Sarazen and exit onto Wooldridge Road.

New – Rodd Field Road and Williams Drive

Saturday – Monday

Contractors will shift traffic onto the northbound lanes and reduce traffic to one through lane in each direction at the Rodd Field Road and Williams Drive intersection.  The “No Left Turns” will continue to be enforced.

Adam District, Community Outreach

“You’re not you when you’re hungry”

Occurred on 1/7/13, 3:30pm  Forgery of Government Instrument    11102 IH 37  1301070089

A Texas Star employee reported a woman entered the store and attempted to purchase a “Snickers” candy bar with a counterfeit $10 bill.  The clerk checked the bill with a detection marker and found it to be phony.

The woman left the store and drove off in a light blue vehicle.  She was accompanied by another woman she called “Mom.”  The suspect is described as a heavyset curly-haired White female who appeared to be 25 to 30 years of age.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com .  Tipsters will receive a cash reward is the suspect is arrested.

Delta District

Tanker Accident Shuts Down Interstate

trafficsignvehicles trafficsign trafficrig trafficcranesOccurred on 1/8/13, 12:05pm  Traffic Accident     IH37 SB at N. Port   C1300174

An accident involving an 18 wheeler and a pick-up truck shut down southbound traffic on IH 37 for a couple of hours.  The Officers investigation revealed that a Ford pick-up truck attempted to pass the tractor-trailer and lost control.  The truck struck the concrete median and then collided with the tractor-trailer, causing it to jack-knife.

During the collision the highway sign crossing IH 37 was taken out and landed on the tractor-trailer and the freeway.

The tractor-trailer fuel tank was punctured causing the diesel fuel to spill onto the freeway and catch fire.  CCFD Emergency Personnel and their HAZMAT crew quickly put out the fire and dealt with the fuel leak.  TXDOT was called to assist and cranes were used to remove the sign from the roadway allowing IH 37 to be reopened.

Officers report both drivers had minor injuries.  Lt. C. Abbott  stated, “This was an impressive job by the Police Department in quickly closing the Interstate and securing the crash scene. All responding agencies coordinated and worked exceptionally well together in clearing this scene and making it safe.”

Delta District

Prostitute Offers to Sell a Stolen Phone to a Client’s Wife

JoseOmerLongoriaOccurred on 01/07/13, 7:50am Theft/Prostitution  600 S. Port  1301070025

A 26-year-old woman called Police for help in recovering a stolen phone.  The woman told Officers G. Alvarez and G. Luna she had received a call from her husband’s cell phone in which the caller offered to return the phone for $250.

Further investigation revealed, the woman’s 25-year-old husband picked up a prostitute in the area of Port and Agnes.  After dropping off the prostitute, the man found his phone had been stolen.

Officers contacted Jose Omer Longoria (06/02/89) at Port and Agnes and he was found to be in possession of the stolen phone.

Longoria was arrested and charged with Theft and Prostitution.  Both charges are Class “B” Misdemeanors and are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.  The recovered phone was returned to the man’s wife.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Man Jailed After Police Called for a Suspicious Vehicle

JoseGuadalupeAngelOccurred on 1/7/13, 10:22pm  Driving While Intoxicated    3800 S Staples   C1300166/1301070138

Police arrested a 22-year-old man after he was found to be driving while intoxicated as they investigated a one vehicle accident.  Officers arrived to find the driver of a Jeep Cherokee attempting to reverse out of a muddy construction zone.  Further investigation revealed, Jose Guadalupe Angel (12/12/90) was driving his gray Jeep Cherokee eastbound in the 3800 block of S. Staples Street when he traveled into the construction zone.  The Cherokee struck a steel barrier and became stuck.

Angel was administered Standard Field Sobriety Tests and a Blood Specimen was taken.  He was found to be intoxicated and booked at the City Detention Center.  Angel was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana when Officers found several cigars containing marijuana inside the Jeep.

He was also cited for Failure to Maintain a Single Lane, No Driver’s License, Expired Inspection Certificate, No Seatbelt~Driver, and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.  Angel was additionally cited for Possession of Fireworks when a pack of firecrackers was found.  Angel’s vehicle was also impounded.