All posts by Senior Officer Julia Hernandez-Garcia

Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division

One Juvenile and Two Adults Charged in Graffiti Investigation

Occurred on 9/10/12, 11:32 pm  Graffiti/Possession of Marijuana/Wanted Subject 6100 Burr  1209110003/1209110005/1209110006

Jeremy Ramirez

Officers were dispatched to the Altex Computer Store for several individuals tagging the business.  Senior Officer P. Ybarra arrived to find a 13-year-old male walking away from a vandalized wall.  The juvenile had a black paint mark on his forearm and smelled like spray paint.

Further investigation revealed the juvenile had tagged a telephone cross box, several wooden fences and utility poles.  The vandalism was estimated at $2,800.  The juvenile was booked at the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center and charged with Graffiti, a State Jail Felony.  He was additionally charged with two Class “C” misdemeanors for Possession of Graffiti Implement~Minor and Curfew Violation.

Officer C. Alejandro observed Jeremy Ramirez (08/02/94) and Devron Rashawn Barnett (06/30/93) walking away from the vandalized area.  Ramirez was observed to hide a baggy of Marijuana by a tree.  He was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana.

Devron Rashawn Barnett

Barnett was arrested and charged with an outstanding Nueces County warrant for Coercing Gang Membership.  His bond was set at $5,000.  Both Ramirez and Barnett were booked at the City Detention Center.

If you live in this area and find your property vandalized, please contact our Graffiti Task Force at 361-886-2788.  Help us keep your neighborhood clear of graffiti, visit our website at www.ccpolice.com and report vandalism in your neighborhood.  To report an act of graffiti in progress, call 911, but if the offenders have fled or unknown, please call our non-emergency 361-886-2600.  You can also submit an on-line vandalism report or a clean-up request with the City Customer Online Center on the website.

Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division

Two Women Uninjured During Armed Robbery

Occurred on 9/9/12, 12:23 pm Robbery  6225 SPID   1209090088

Two women, 19 and 22 years of age were loading their belongings inside their vehicle when a red four-door vehicle drove up to them.  Two passengers in the vehicle robbed the young women at gunpoint, taking their money.

Both suspects are described as Hispanic males, 20 to 30 years of age, and 5’8” feet tall.  The men returned to the vehicle and fled into the neighborhood behind the hotel.  The victims were unable to provide a description of the driver and front passenger.

Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com .  Callers will earn a cash reward if the suspects are arrested.

 

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Three Men Injured During Home Invasion

Occurred on 9/9/12, 2:32 pm  Burglary  3600 Marion   1209090097

Police were dispatched to the 3600 block of Marion Circle for a home invasion in which two men forced their way into the home and assaulted the victims.  Dispatchers provided additional information telling Officers the men escaped through one of the back bedrooms and were seen jumping a fence.

A 29-year-old victim told Officers he opened the front door to find two armed men standing in the doorway.  Both men forced their way inside and demanded their money.  Two other residents in the home, 35 and 39 years of age were stabbed.  Both victims sustained non-life threatening injuries and were treated by CCFD Emergency Personnel.

The first suspect is described as a dark complected Hispanic or Black man, 23 to 25 years of age, 5’6” feet tall, and weighing 150 lbs. The second suspect is also described as a dark complected Hispanic or Black man, 25 years of age, 5’6” to 5’9” feet tall and weighing 150 lbs.  Both were last seen wearing dark-colored clothing.

Officers talked to witnesses and they reported seeing a mid-sized vehicle parked in front of the victims’ home shortly before police arrived.  Two females were seen inside the vehicle.

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 earn a cash reward if the suspects are arrested.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

“Beer Run” Escalates into Robbery

Celeste Joy Mason

Occurred on 9/9/12, 6:05 pm  Robbery  1050 Nueces Bay  1209090127

Officers contacted Stripes Convenience Store employees who reported two females entered the store and stole a 6-pack of beer.  When asked to return the beer, Celeste Joy Mason (12/19/85) returned two of the beers.

Mason was detained by the store employee who asked for the rest of the beer hidden in Mason’s purse.  The other female grabbed the store clerk as she pulled her away from Mason. Both women fled the store in newer model tan Cadillac.

The unidentified woman is described only as a black female wearing a white shirt with a leopard print shorts.  Officers searched for the vehicle and found the Cadillac at Lake and Josephine Streets. Mason was found standing next to the vehicle drinking one of the beers taken in the robbery.

Mason was positively identified by the store employee and arrested.  She was charged with Robbery and an outstanding Nueces County Warrant for Driving While Intoxicated.  Though apprehended, Mason was not done being unlawful.  She slipped her handcuffs to front and began kicking the door of the police car.  Mason’s handcuffs were placed behind her back, but she continued to be resistant to being handcuffed and going to jail.   Once pepper sprayed, Mason complied with the Officers instructions.  She was additionally charged with Resisting Arrest or Transport.

The investigation into the robbery continues and will be conducted by the Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Bureau.  Anyone with any information on this robbery is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com.  The caller can earn a cash reward if the suspect is arrested.

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Thief Takes Victim’s Keys and Burglarizes Her Vehice

Occurred on 8/29/12, 12:03 pm  Burglary of a Vehicle  5702 Weber Road  1208290148

Corpus Christi Police Department Auto Theft Task Force Detecitves would like the public’s assistance in identifying a thief who stole the 18-year-old victim’s car keys while she worked at a local pharmacy.  The man walked into the store with a young boy and video surveillance shows the man grab the keys from behind the check-out counter.

The victim’s vehicle is burglarized and an iPod is taken.  The suspect is described as a thin Hispanic male wearing a white shirt.

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.

Delta District

Knife Wielding Masked Man Robs Store, Clerk Uninjured

  

Occurred on 8/31/12, 5:46 am Aggravated Robbery  3102 Ayers 1208310031

Officers were dispatched to the Stripes Convenience Store and contacted the store clerk who reported she was robbed. The clerk told Officers she was mopping the floor when a man walked into the store “brandishing” a knife and demanding the money from the cash register.

The 57-year-old clerk was trying to comply with his demands, but the man kept swinging the knife at her. Fearing for her safety, the clerk grabbd a wet floor sign and swung it at the suspect. The suspect was able to knock the sign away and take an undetermined amount of money.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 5’4″ to 5’6″ feet tall, and weighing 160-180 lbs. He was last seen wearing a blue baseball cap, a white shirt with thin blue stripes, and checkered shorts.

Anyone with any information on this crime encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Callers will earn a cash reward.

Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division

Suspect in Several Auto Burglaries Arrested

On 8/28/12, Officers responded to an auto burglary at Seaside Villa Apartment, 1011 Ennis Joslin in which a black Ford pick-up truck was used as the getaway vehicle.  The victim reported a cd player was taken from a Mercury Mountaineer.  On 8/23/12, a blue Mitsubishi Eclipse was also burglarized; taken was a backpack and cosmetology kit.

The Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force was able to explore all criminal activity involving the same vehicle and identify two suspects.  ATTF Detectives were able to link Robert Benavidez (03/23/92) and his girlfriend to the multiple burglaries throughout the city.

Benavidez was arrested at 1122 Shiels by Corpus Christi Police and the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force.  He was charged with the outstanding Parole Warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance and Resisting Arrest.  The case is ongoing and the Benavidez could face additional charges.

Delta District

Man Kidnapped and Robbed, Two Men Arrested

Vernon Hemphill
Curtis Curt Terrell

Occurred on 8/28/12, 5:22 pm  Kidnapping/Aggravated Robbery    522 N. Tancahua   1208280112

Officers responded to the Wells Fargo Bank Motor Bank after a customer sent the teller a written message on a check to call police.  Upon their arrival, Officers observed several males the silver PT Cruiser in the drive thru and blocked it in.

Further investigation revealed the victim had been assaulted and robbed of him money after agreeing to drive one of the men home.  The victim told Officers he drank a few beers with the man when another man arrived at the home and threatened to kill the victim.  The man assaulted the victim with a piece of wood causing a laceration his eye and chin.

The two men drove the victim to the bank and were forcing the victim to withdraw money from his bank account when police arrived.

Vernon Hemphill (12/11/89) and Curtis Curt Terrell (08/23/48) were both arrested and charged with Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Robbery.  Terrell was additionally charged with an outstanding warrant.

The victim was treated at the scene by CCFD Emergency Personnel.

Criminal Intelligence Unit

Man Receives 17 Year Prison Sentence for Soliciting a Minor Online

Mathews Christian Owens
07/06/75

On 8/27/12, Matthew Owens, a 36-year-old Houston man, pled guilty in Judge Jose Longoria’s court to Online Solicitation of a Minor and received a 17 year prison sentence.  

In September of 2011, Owens began communicating via the internet with what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl.  Through numerous conversations, Owens arranged to travel to Corpus Christi from his home in Houston and have sex with the 12-year-old. 

Owens also committed lewd acts via webcam while he believed he was communicating with the girl.  In March of 2012, Owens arrived in Corpus Christi and attempted to meet with the girl at which time he was arrested by detectives with CCPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  Owens brought his 9 and 12-year-old daughters with him while he attempted to meet her.  The case was prosecuted by the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office. 

CCPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was assisted in this investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.  I.C.A.C. Task Force Supervisor Captain James Brandon recommends visiting http://www.netsmart.org/Parents which provides internet safety tips for parents and guardians.

 
 
 

 

Bravo District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Three Men Injured During Home Invasion

Occurred on 8/28/12, 4:23 am   Aggravated Assault    15600 Cruiser      1208280018/1208280023 

Officers responded to Bay Area Hospital for a walk-in assault victim who been taken to the hospital by his roommate.  Upon their arrival, Officers found the victim being treated with serious facial and head injuries.   

Further investigation revealed, the three victims were asleep when several masked men entered the residence and began assaulting them.  The men demanded the victims’ money and fled taking one of the victim’s silver 2003 Mercedes CK5. 

The 22-year-old victim was transferred from Bay Area to Spohn Memorial due to the seriousness of his injuries. The other two victims, 22 and 23 years of age were treated by CCFD Emergency Personnel and released.

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 earn a cash reward if the suspects are arrested.