All posts by Senior Officer Julia Hernandez-Garcia

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Sharp Dressed Man Scamming People for Tow Truck Money

The Corpus Christi Police Department Financial Crimes Unit would like you to keep an eye out for a “sharp dressed man” attempting to scam money at local hospitals and businesses.  Several victims have reported being asked for money by a well dressed Hispanic male who identifies himself as a pharmaceutical representative working for a local doctor.   The man will tell his potential victims his vehicle needs to be towed and would like to borrow $25 to $40.   He promises to pay the money back and provides the victim with “his” cell phone number.

The man is described as a Hispanic male, 33-42 years of age, 5’7″ to 5’11” feet tall,  and weighing 160 to 180 lbs.  He is also described as well dressed and well spoken.

If you are approached, please understand scam artists are professionals and everyone is a potential victim.  Ask for identification and be cautious of strangers.  To report a scam artist, call the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 361-886-2600.   If you feel your safety is at risk, immediately walk away and dial 911.

Delta District

“Who Needs Enemies with Friends Like This”

Occurred on 11/16/12, 4:45am  Aggravated Robbery   5549 Leopard Street  1211160016

Police were called to the Holiday Inn for a robbery and contacted the 31–year-old victim who told them he’d been robbed by several friends after a night of drinking.

The victim told Officers he along with his friends traveled to the convenience store near Leopard and Port Avenue.  As he exited the pick-up truck, one of his friends pulled a handgun while another friend began hitting him with a baseball bat.  A woman with the two men stole his wallet during the assault.

The three suspects fled in a Ford F-150, leaving the victim behind.   He was medically evaluated by CCFD Emergency Personnel, but reused to be taken to the hospital.

The man was able to provide Officers with his friend’s information and the Criminal Investigations Division will continue the investigation.

Criminal Investigations Division

Gang Unit Arrests Three Men, Two Known Prison Gang Members

Jonathan Stephen Vasquez
Joshua James Brown
Christopher Reed

Occurred on 11/14/12, 5:41pm  Wanted Gang Members  222 W. Vanderbilt Drive  1211140095

The Corpus Christi Police Department’s Gang Unit’s search for two wanted prison gang members ended when they were found at  222 of W. Vanderbilt, yesterday afternoon.  The two known prison gang affiliates were wanted for their involvement in separate incidences of Family Violence.

Gang Officers had obtained a warrant for Jonathan Vasquez (10/24/85) for Assault and Continuous Violence Against the Family along with a warrant for Burglary with Intent to Commit a Felony.  His bonds totaled $150,000. A misdemeanor warrant was also obtained for Joshua James Brown (08/19/86) for Assault.

When Officers arrived at the residence they obtained a search warrant when they found Brown and Christopher Reed (08/01/80) sitting at a dining room table with almost a pound of Marijuana between them.  The Marijuana along with a half ounce of Cocaine and 1 3/4 ounce of Heroin were also seized.

Vasquez, Brown, and Reed were all arrested and booked at the City Detention Center.  The three men were charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana. Vasquez and Brown were additionally charged with their outstanding warrants.

The Police Department’s Gang Unit attributes the quick capture of these men to Chief Floyd Simpson’s re-organization of all investigative units under one command allowing them to work closely with one another.  The re-organization and new command structure was one of Chief Simpson’s first goals ensuring similar goals work under the same command.  Gang members are involved in all facets of criminal activity and the Gang Unit will continue to pursue these violent criminals by working in partnership with fellow local Law Enforcement and the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office.

Captain D. Mersing implores family members and friends to help an abused friend or relative by reporting Family Violence.  Please contact our Family Violence Unit to ask for assistance at 361-886-2670.

Criminal Investigations Division, Traffic Safety Division

Traffic Investigators Solve Motorcyclist Hit & Run

Corpus Christi Police Department Hit & Run Investigators report the suspected Jeep involved in Monday’s accident has been located and impounded.  With the assistance of the Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force, Officers were able to track down the Jeep using pieces of evidence recovered from the accident scene.

A suspect in the hit and run accident has been identified and could face a charge of Accident Involving Personal Injury or Death, a 3rd Degree Felony which is punishable by two to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

For additional information on the original post, please visit our CCPD Blotter at http://wp.me/p1D8kP-2JI.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Don’t Pay Your Ticket with Funny Money

Occurred on 11/13/12, 10:04am  Forgery     120 N. Chaparral   1211130042

Police were called to Municipal Court when City Marshalls detained a 45-year-old man after he attempted to pay for an outstanding warrant with counterfeit money.

A Municipal Court clerk checked the money when he tried to pay the fine and found the $50 bills to be phony.  Corpus Christi Police Department Financial Crimes Detectives interviewed the man who was unaware the money was counterfeit.  The money was seized and he was released.

The Financial Crimes Unit recommends you visit the Secret Service website at http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml to guard yourself against counterfeiters.

Delta District

Three Charged with “The Club” Beating

Amber Starr Mason
Brittney Nicole Mason
Candielynn Casey Mason

Occurred on 11/12/12, 9:07pm  Aggravated Assault  826 Retama   1211120058 

Police were called to the residence for a fight involving knives and sticks.  Upon their arrival, Officers talked to a 58-year-old man and 52-year-old woman who told them they were attacked by the three women at the residence.

The woman told Officers Candielynn Mason (08/13/87)  stopped by the home to drop off her ex-boyfriend’s clothing when she became upset and punched the victim in the face.  The victim’s companion attempted to stop the assault, but Brittney Mason (10/22/92) and Amber Starr Mason (12/30/89) grabbed a anti-theft vehicle locking device (The Club) and began assaulting the man.

The women took turns assaulting him with “The Club” before jumping in a gold Chevrolet Monte Carlo and driving away.  The victims suffered non-life threatening injuries in the assault.

Officers searched the area and found the Monte Carlo at the Stripes Convenience Store at Buddy Lawrence and IH 37.  Also inside the vehicle were Candielynn Mason’s two children.

All three women were arrested and booked at the City Detention Center.  They were charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Candielynn Mason was additionally charged with Assault Causes Bodily Injury which is a Class “A” Misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.  Her children were released to a family member.

Criminal Intelligence Unit

Man Charged with Online Solication of a Minor

Ted Sparks

On 11/9/12, the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force culminated an investigation with the arrest of a local man.  Ted Sparks (07/09/87)  had been communicating via Facebook with an individual that he believed was a 14-year-old female.

Sparks solicited sex from the underaged female and arranged to meet her.  He was subsequently arrested and charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor and booked into the Nueces County Jail.

 

 

Delta District

Woman Crashes into Tree As She Attempts to Flee

DaisyDeLeon

Occurred on 11/12/12, 02:49am Evading Arrest 600 Francesca 1211120010

Police were called to the 600 block of Francesca for a disturbance involving an ex-girlfriend of the homeowner’s son.   Officers contacted Daisy Deleon (06/03/85) as she sat in a white Chevrolet Impala. Deleon was asked to turn off the car, but she sped away, fleeing south on Francesca.

It was discovered Deleon lived on Van Loan and Officers traveled to the area in search of her.  Once at Martin Luther King and Van Loan, Officers found the vehicle had been involved in a one vehicle accident, striking a tree.

DeLeon was arrested and booked at the City Detention Center after she was medically cleared.  She was charged with two outstanding Municipal Court warrants for Failure to Appear ($319) and Violation of Promise to Appear (352.10) along with Evading Arrest in a Vehicle which is a 3rd Degree Felony punishable by up to 10 years and a $10,000 fine.  She was also cited for Failing to Maintain a Single Lane.

Delta District, Traffic Safety Division

Motorcyclist Injured in Early Morning Hit and Run

Occurred on 11/12/12, 02:28am  Major Accident  3300 S. Staples Street  C1208631

Officers responded to Staples and Texan Trail for a hit and run accident involving a motorcycle.  Upon their arrival, Officers found the 30-year-old motorcyclist seriously injured.  He was rushed to Spohn Memorial with non-life threatening injuries.

Further investigation revealed,  a red Jeep Wrangler turned left in front of the motorcyclist causing him to strike the passenger side of the Jeep. The motorcyclist went down and the Jeep fled on Texas Trail.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or login online at www.888TIPS.com.  Tipsters will earn a cash reward if the suspect is arrested.

Community Outreach, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Three Days Left to Enter CCPD’s Anti D.W.I. Slogan and Art Contest

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to remind all Corpus Christi High School students between 15-18 years of age that the Anti DWI Slogan and Art Contest will end on  November 12, 2012.  The winners will receive a new iPad and have their entry displayed on a billboard in Corpus Christi.

The contest is to design a new anti-drunk driving advertising campaign. Contest winners will be in two categories; for the best slogan and for the best two-dimensional artwork. The contest entries must be submitted to the High School the student attends or to the Police Department no later than November 12, 2012.

The contest entries will be judged by a group designated by Police Chief Floyd Simpson. Judges will not know the name of the contestant nor will they know which school the student attends when the contest entries are judged. The two first place winners will receive iPads. The second place winners will receive iPod touches, and the third place winners will receive iPod nanos. The contest winners will have their entry displayed on billboards in Corpus Christi through the month of December.

The contest is open to all students of a High School in Corpus Christi or accredited home school in Corpus Christi. Those interested in the contest should visit www.cctexas.com/police/contest.html for information and to download an entry form.

This is an opportunity for new drivers to use their creativity to make the streets a safer place to drive.