All posts by Senior Officer Julia Hernandez-Garcia

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Detectives Need Your Help to Solve Robbery

Occurred on 10/6/12, 8:31 pm  Aggravated Robbery  6506 Everhart Road  1210060154

Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detectives are asking the public’s assistance to identify a man who robbed the Liquid Town on Saturday, October 6, 2012. At approximately 8:30pm,  Officers responded to the liquor store and contacted the 30-year-old store clerk who reported she was robbed at gunpoint.  The 55-year-old store manager attempted to verbally intervene when the man pointed the gun at him and again demanded the money from the register.  The man ran out the store with an undetermined amount of money and fled to the east side of the business where his getaway vehicle was parked.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male or a light complected Black male, 35 to 45 years of age, and 5’10” feet tall.  He was wearing a long-sleeve work shirt and dark-colored Dickie work pants.  He was last seen fleeing eastbound on Saratoga Boulevard in a dark-colored passenger vehicle.

Anyone with any information on this crime or the identity of the robber are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com.  Tipsters will earn a cash reward if the suspect is arrested.

Delta District

Woman Hits Home in Morning Accident

Occurred on 10/15/12, 8:10am  Minor Accident  1310 Espinosa Street  C1207850

Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident with a house at 1310 Espinosa Street.  Upon their arrival, Officers contacted the 52-year-old female driver who told Officers she accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake.  The tan Jeep Cherokee struck the front of her residence causing minor damage.

The driver and her 26-year-old female passenger were uninjured.

Bravo District

Homeowner Captures Burglar

William Dowell Lutes

Occurred on 10/14/12, 5:10pm  Burglary of a Vehicle      1100 Zarsky Drive     1210140108

Officers responded to the 1100 block of Zarsky for a burglary of a vehicle in progress in which the suspect was being detained by the homeowner.  Upon their arrival, Officers found the homeowner  had the suspect William Dowell Lutes (12/16/79) sitting in his front yard.

Further investigation revealed the victim was inside his home when he heard his dog barking very loudly from the garage.  Once outside, he observed Lutes getting out of his white Buick Regal.  Lutes began walking away when the victim grabbed him and ordered him to sit down until Police arrived.  He did not put up a struggle and complied with the homeowner’s request.

Lutes was arrested and charged with Burglary of a Vehicle along with an outstanding Parole Violation Warrant.  “No Bond” was set on the warrant.

Bravo District

K-9 Officer Alerts to Heroin and Cocaine in Car

Mario Alberto Bazan

Occurred on 10/14/12, 11:27 pm  Possession of a Controlled Substance  13330 SPID 1210140154

Officers at the Flour Bluff substation observed a maroon Kia Optima pull into the Shell Service Station and park at the gas pumps.  The driver sat at the pumps for a while and met with the driver of a silver hatchback.  Shortly thereafter, both drivers took off in opposite directions.

The Optima was pulled over for a traffic violation at the 13300 block of S. Padre Island Drive.  The Officers observed a capped syringe in Mario Alberto Bazan’s (05/27/65) shirt pocket and several pills were also found on his person.  Officers requested the assistance of Senior Officer J. Lavastida and his K-9 partner Indy.  Indy alerted to several small zip lock baggies containing Heroin and Cocaine underneath the driver along with Drug Paraphernalia.

Bazan was arrested and charged with two counts of Possession of Dangerous Drugs, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was also cited for Failing to Stop before the Stop Sign, Failure to Signal 100 feet before Turning, and Failure to Display a Driver’s License.

Charlie District

Man Charged with Hit & Run, D.W.I.

Carlos Garza Jr.

Occurred on 10/14/12, 10:25pm  Driving While Intoxicated  4700 Kostoryz Road   1210140143

Officers observed a Ford pick-up truck hit a parked red Dodge Neon in the parking lot of the Times Market at 4702 Kostoryz Road.  The Neon was unoccupied as the owner was inside the store.  The truck driver, Carlos Garza Jr. (07/20/43) didn’t stop and drove off.

Upon observing Garza drive off, the owner of the Neon ran out of the store and chased after the truck, trying to get the driver to stop.Officers pulled over the truck over a short distance away and contacted Garza who appeared to be intoxicated.  He was administered Standard Field Sobriety Tests and a Blood Draw was obtained.

Garza was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Duty on Striking Unattended Vehicle, Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility, and No Driver’s License.

Bravo District

Off-Duty Corpus Christi Police Officer Charged with D.W.I.

Occurred on 10/14/12, 3:00am Driving While Intoxicated S.P.I.D./Nile 1210140037

The Corpus Christi Police Department is currently investigating the arrest of an off-duty Corpus Christi Police Officer early Sunday morning. The preliminary investigation has revealed the following.

On October 14, 2012, at approximately 3:00 am, a Corpus Christi Police Officer observed a vehicle driving unsafely and pulled it over. The Officer observed signs of intoxication from the driver and recognized him as a CCPD Officer.

The Officers’ investigation developed probable cause that Hector Corona (12/12/63) had operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Corona was arrested and a warrant for a blood specimen was obtained.

As per department protocol, Corona a 17 year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department was placed on restricted duty while an internal investigation is conducted regarding his off-duty conduct. While on restricted duty, the officer will have no public interaction or enforcement responsibilities.

Chief Floyd Simpson who recently announced the department’s holiday anti-drinking and driving campaign will not tolerate drinking and driving in our community, regardless of who may be involved.

The investigation is ongoing and any updates will be released by the Public Information Office as they become available.

Delta District

Man Pays Dearly for a Kiss

Occurred on 10/05/12, 01:24 am  Aggravated Assault w/a Deadly Weapon  733 Landsdown  Drive  1210050010

A 30-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen during a fight involving several subjects.  Police were called to 733 Lansdown for a fight.  Upon their arrival, Officers found several individuals in front of the residence.

The victim told Officers he was at a local amphitheater when he was involved in a fight with Ruben Salazar’s (05/13/59) son.  The animosity stemmed from the victim kissing Salazar son’s “baby mama.”  Both men agreed to meet at the Lansdown residence to resolve the situation.  Once there, he was met by the Salazar and his 26-year-old son.   The two younger men tried to work things out, but a “fist fight” ensued between the three men.

The Officers were told by the victim, he’d been punched a couple of times, but was not seriously injured.  During their conversation, an Officer noticed a blood stain growing on the victim’s abdomen and asked him to pull his shirt up.  It was then that Officers observed a couple of stab wounds and called for an ambulance. He was taken to Spohn Memorial by CCFD Emergency Personnel with non-life threatening injuries.

Further investigation revealed, Salazar had stabbed the victim during the fight.  Salazar was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Bravo District

Report of Shooting Proves False, Two Jailed for P.I.

Eric Justin Perez
David Matthew Navarro

Occurred on 10/03/12, 10:50pm   Possession of Marijuana/PI    2000 Airline      1210030155/1210030157

Police responded to the area of Airline and Holly for a shooting call in which a man had been shot in the alleyway.  Upon their arrival, Officers discovered two men walking away from the area, but did not find a gunshot victim.  Both men  appeared to be intoxicated when contacted by Officers.  One of the men told Officers he was shot at by someone in a Mustang GT, but he was unable to provide any additional information.

David Mathew Navarro (06/18/86) and Eric Justin Perez (02/09/80) were both arrested and charged with Public Intoxication.  Perez was additionally charged with Possession of Marijuana when a small amount was found in his property.

Adam District

Cricket Employee Stall Tactics Help Catch Wanted Subject

David Clark Yeomen

Occurred on 10/02/12 11:53 am  Credit Card Abuse  11101 Leopard  1210020077

Police were called to The Cricket Store for a credit card abuse in progress with a female employee trying to stall the “customer” till Officers arrived.  Upon their arrivals, Officers observed the green Chevrolet Suburban driving away from the parking lot and pulled it over.  In the SUV was David Clark Yeomen (09/01/86) along with two other women.

Further investigation revealed Yeomen attempted to purchase a cellular phone and accessories, but his credit card was declined.  The employee told Officers, Yeomen requested the transaction be handled offline or he be allowed the use of the credit card machine.  The employees had been warned by management of a similar incident in which money had been stolen utilizing the offline process. Yeomen’s request was denied and police called.

Yeomen was arrested and charged with Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse and an outstanding Nueces County warrant for Larceny.  The two women were not charged and released.

 

 

Bravo District, Narcotics/Vice Division, Patrol Division

Crime Stopper’s Tip Leads to Arrest of Three Men, Seizure of Drugs and Money

Abel Salazar
Eluid Esquivel
David Moreno

Occurred on 10/02/12, 9:50 pm  Possession of a Controlled Substance   2222 Capitan Drive 1210020122

Investigators with the Corpus Christi Police Department Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division were following up on a Crime Stoppers tip reporting the sale of drugs from an apartment 2222 Capitan Drive.  While conducting surveillance, Officers pulled over a vehicle leaving the residence for a traffic violation.  A search of the vehicle was conducted with the assistance of K-9 Unit Officer L.  Priess and his partner “Kimbo” who alerted to 11 lbs. of Marijuana in the vehicle.

Abel Salazar (12/12/47) was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana, which is a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and  fined up to $10,000.  1210020111

N.V.I.D. investigators contacted David Moreno (09/15/73) at 2222 Capitan Drive and viewed a usable amount of marijuana, while speaking with  him.  Investigators “froze the scene” while a search warrant was obtained.

Eliud Esquivel (11/27/81) arrived at the residence, while officers were waiting for the search warrant to be completed.  Further investigation revealed, Esquivel was the owner of the drugs inside the home.   Approximately 9 lbs. of Marijuana and 8.34 grams of Cocaine were seized along with $14,520 in cash.

Moreno and Esquivel were both arrested and booked at the City Detention Center.  Moreno was charged with Possession of Marijuana, a Class “B” Misdemeanor punishable by 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.  Esquivel was charged with Possession of Marijuana, a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine along with Possession of a Controlled Substance, a 2nd degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,00 fine.

The 20 lbs. of Marijuana has a street value of $10,000, while the Cocaine is valued $450.  David Cook, the Narcotics and Vice Division Captain has issued a warning to the drug dealers in our community, “If you are dealing dope in Corpus Christi, you will eventually find us knocking on your door.”