All posts by Senior Officer Julia Hernandez-Garcia

Armed Men Run Off with Money and Smokes

Occurred on 10/29/12, 10:32pm  Aggravated Robbery  4702 Kostoryz   1210290142

Police were called to the Times Market for an armed robbery involving two Hispanic males.  Officers contacted the 56-year-old store owner and his 54-year-old wife who reported the two men entered the store wearing hoodies pulled over their faces.

One of the men pointed a gun at the store owner and demanded their money from the register.  The suspects took an undetermined amount of cash and several cartons of cigarettes.  Both suspects fled on foot.  The couple was uninjured in the robbery.

The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 19 to 23 years of age, and 5’7” to 5’9” feet tall.  He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie with long shorts, and a baseball cap along with flip-flops worn over black socks.

The second suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 18 to 22 years of age, 5’5” to 5’6” feet tall, and weighing 140 to 150 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a red shirt under a grey hoodie, a baseball cap, and armed with a firearm.

Anyone with any information that can identify or locate this man should call the Corpus Christi Police Robbery/Homicide Bureau immediately at 361-886-2841 or the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 361-886-2600.  Information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Two Charged with Tampering in Connection with Homicide

Luis Carlos Saldivar Jr.

A 19-year-old man identified as Luis Carlos Saldivar Jr. (06/15/93) along with a 16-year-old juvenile male have been arrested on charges of Tampering with Evidence in relation to the October 22,  2012 homicide investigation of a 24-year-old Corpus Christi man.

Corpus Christi Police were called to the Four Wind Apartments, 4101 Brett Street to investigate a complaint of gunshots, shortly thereafter, Officer received information that the victim had arrived at a local hospital with a fatal injury.The Corpus Christi Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Bureau took over the investigation.

During their investigation, detectives developed information leading to Saldivar’s and the juvenile’s arrests.  Saldivar was arrested on October 29, 2012, at 12:30pm and booked at the City Detention Center.  He is being held on a $75,000 bond.  The 16-year-old was booked at the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center on Friday, October 26, 2012.

Homicide/Robbery Lt. K. Isaacks stated, “The Homicide Investigation is still in the preliminary stages.  We are still in the process of evaluating all  of the physical evidence and interviewing all possible witnesses.”  The investigation is still ongoing and will be referred to the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office when concluded.

For additional information, please view the previous blotter posts on this homicide.  http://wp.me/p1D8kP-2Ee  http://wp.me/p1D8kP-2CO

Road Rage Lands Man in Jail

AnthonyTedesco

Occurred on 10/28/12, 8:55pm  Deadly Conduct    Everhart/Holly    1210280109

Police were called to the area of Everhart and Holly Roads for disturbance with a gun between the occupants of two vehicles who were traveling eastbound on Holly Road.

Officers pulled over the white Ford pick-up truck in the 4800 block of Everhart and conducted a felony traffic stop.  The driver Anthony Tedesco (07/09/49) was detained and Officers located a gun along with three hunting rifles.

The victims told Officers they accidentally cut off the truck at Cimmarron and Wooldridge.  Tedesco chased after the victims and pointed a gun at them.  The couple tried to get away from Tedesco, but he continued pursuing them until Police arrived.

Tedesco was positively identified by the victims and placed under arrest. He was taken to Bay Area after complaining of feeling sick.  Tedesco was medically cleared and booked at the City Detention Center.  He was charged with Deadly Conduct Aggravated Assault which is a Class “A” Misdemeanor punishable by a $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail.

Police Seize Drugs and Money During DL Checkpoint Arrest

Occurred on  10/25/12 11:25pm Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance  Richter Street and Sacky Drive  1210260004

Several Officers conducting a Driver’s License checkpoint flagged down a Ford Crown Victoria driven by Michael Anthony Dominguez (09/04/75) who appeared to be uneasy as he rolled  down the driver’s side window.

Officers quickly understood the reason why, they were hit with the odor of marijuana as Dominguez handed the Officer his driver’s license.  Further investigation revealed Dominguez had been smoking marijuana just prior to driving up to the checkpoint.  He was also found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana, 16 small plastic baggies containing Cocaine and Methamphetamine, along with $1,348 in U.S. currency.  The drugs and money were both seized.

Dominguez was arrested and charged with two counts of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and an outstanding Parole Violation warrant for Dangerous Drugs.

 

 

Woman Vandalizes Apartment, Sets It on Fire

Occurred on 10/25/12, 10:40pm  Arson  9850 La Branch Street  1210250154

Senior Officer A. Diaz and Officer A. Gonzalez responded to the Westwood Apartments for a disturbance involving a man and woman.  The caller advised the man had left the residence and smoke could be seen coming out of the apartment.

Upon their arrival, Officers found a woman sitting outside of the apartment who appeared to be intoxicated.  Officers quickly checked the apartment to make sure no one was inside.  They found the apartment empty and the fire put out.

Further investigation revealed a neighbor who observed the smoke rushed over and extinguished a fire on the stove which had spread to walls near the stove.  CCFD firefighters advised Officers the fire appeared to have been intentionally lit.

Another neighbor told Officers Christina Vasquez (01/21/82) could be heard yelling and screaming as she trashed the apartment.  Vasquez forced her way into the neighbor’s apartment and threatened her when she called Police.

Vasquez was arrested and booked at the City Detention Center.  She was charged with Arson and an outstanding Municipal Court warrant in the amount $518 for Public Intoxication.

Three Hospitialized in One Vehicle Accident

Occurred on 10/25/12, 2:40pm  Major Accident   1300 Navigation     C1208129

Police were called to the 1300 block of Navigation for a one vehicle accident in which a Jeep Grand Cherokee struck a traffic light pole.  The 21-year-old driver told Officers she was turning west onto Navigation when her brakes failed causing her to lose control and hit the pole.  The impact pushed the engine into the passenger compartment.

Two adult passengers were taken to Spohn Memorial, one with a fractured arm and the other with minor wounds.  A three-year-old was taken to Driscoll Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver and a one-year-old infant were uninjured.

The driver was cited for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.

Do You Know Where Your Catalytic Converter Is??

Catalytic Converters are a necessary part of your vehicle’s exhaust system which helps reduce vehicle pollution, but they have become popular with thieves.  The Corpus Christi Police Department has experienced a recent rise in the theft of Catalytic Converters from fleet businesses and car lots in the past several weeks.

The converters metal properties (platinum, rhodium and palladium) make them valuable and attractive to thieves for resale to metal recycling centers.   The converters have no identifiable markings which make it impossible to identify victims or prosecute those involved in theft of the converters.

Lt. C. White, the Corpus Christi Police Department Auto Theft Task Force supervisor states, “It only takes a couple of minutes to steal the converters by cutting them out or unbolting them. They can be stolen from your driveway or street, car dealerships or parking lots.”

Corpus Christi Police Department Auto Theft Task Force Detectives recommend a few tips to prevent the theft of your catalytic converter:

  • Park in a well-lit area or light up your driveway
  • Install a car alarm
  • Engrave your converter with your vehicle license plate
  • Have your mechanic secure the converter to your vehicle’s frame
  • Buy an anti-catalytic theft device

If your Catalytic Converter is stolen please call our non-emergency number at 361-886-2600 or file a report online at www.ccpolice.com.

Woman Suffers a Broken Hand in Accident

Occurred on 10/24/12, 9:55pm  Major Accident  615 Power Street    C1208114 

A 55-year-old woman and her 23-year-old passenger escaped serious injuries when their silver Chrysler Town & Country Van hit the building at 615 Power Street.  The woman told Officers she was traveling southbound on the Harbor Bridge when she exited at Power Street.  Her vehicle’s brakes malfunctioned, causing the van to strike a guardrail, a metal pole, and finally coming to a stop when it crashed into the building.

The passenger was uninjured, but the driver was taken to Spohn Memorial with a broken hand by CCFD Emergency Personnel.

 

Detectives Seek Information in Auto Burglaries

Reported on 10/24/12, 9:00am   Burglary of a Vehicle   4440 Prescott   1210240029

Officers contacted the owner of Master Auto Service who reported several vehicles inside a fenced area were burglarized overnight.

The 48-year-old owner told Officers, two customers’ vehicles, a Ford Explorer and a Chevrolet Corvette were broken into.  The burglar or burglars stole the Corvette’s carburetor valued at $350 along with SUV’s stereo valued at $150.

A Chevrolet pick-up truck belonging to the owner was also vandalized in an attempt to steal the stereo.  The suspect was unsuccessful in taking the stereo, but caused approximately $1,500 in damages.

Police ask that anyone with any additional information about this crime is encouraged the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force at 361-886-2841.  Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Man Caught Looking into Home Arrested

Occurred on 10/24/12, 09:00am  Wanted Subject  Waldron Road  1210240027

Senior Officers J.E. Solis and E. Kronk were working school zone speed enforcement in the 900 block of Glen Oak Drive when a passerby advised them of a suspicious person looking inside a vacant residence.

Officers located Joshua Aaron Stevens (11/07/89) near the fence at 733 St. Bernadine Drive.  Stevens was found to be wanted and arrested.  He was booked at the City Detention Center and charged with an outstanding warrant out of Tarrant County for Violation of Probation on a Forgery of Check conviction.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to thank this anonymous citizen who took action and reported the suspicious activity.  The information given allowed Officers to arrest a wanted criminal and possibly helped prevent a burglary.