All posts by Senior Officer Julia Hernandez-Garcia

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

“Watch Dog” Leads Officers to Two Auto Burglars

Occurred on 5/25/12, 6:33 am   Burglary of a Vehicle   3600 Pecan   1205250031, 1205250046, and 125250046

Two auto burglars were arrested after several complaints were received for two men burglarizing unlocked vehicles as they walked down the 3600 block of Pecan.  One caller confronted the men, while another caller followed them to a nearby apartment complex and called police. 

Officers J. Wicks and E. Hemping searched for the two men who were described as heavy-set White males in their late teens to early twenties.  They were accompanied by a white and brown dog.  Officers were told the men had entered the Brawner Park Apartment complex and a search for the suspects ensued.  A short time later, the Officers saw the dog  on the top of the stairwell.  

As the Officers walked up the stairs, they found Valentin Aleman Jr. (07/16/92) and Daniel Griffin (02/28/92) sorting their stolen loot.  Both men were detained and taken to the Criminal Investigation Division for interviews.   

Aleman and Griffin were arrested and booked at the City Detention Center.  They were both charged with three different counts of Burglary of a Vehicle. 

Auto Theft Detectives report that all the property stolen was taken from unlocked vehicles as the suspects walked by.  Don’t become a victim of chance, “Hide, Lock, and Take” everywhere you park your car.   Help us lower crime and HIDE YOUR THINGS, LOCK YOUR CAR, and TAKE YOUR KEYS!

Delta District

28 Year-Old Man Drowns in Corpus Christi Bay

Occurred on 5/24/12, 6:43 pm  Drowning  1400 Ocean Drive   1205240137 

Officers responding to a drowning climbed over a fence to reach the dock where a man and woman were in the water.  As they reached the dock they observed a security guard holding on to the woman.  Officers and the security guard assisted the woman from the water.

The man was pulled out of the water by Officers and CCFD Emergency Personnel and administered CPR.  He was rushed to Spohn Shoreline where he died.

Further investigation revealed the couple had climbed over the locked gate and were sitting on the dock drinking.  The man unexpectedly jumped into the water and did not resurface.  The woman entered the water in search of the man and began calling for help when she did not find him.  A security guard heard her yelling and hurried to help her.

The investigation is ongoing, but at this time, there appears to be no foul play involved.

Adam District

Suspects Burglarize Beer Barn and Flee in Stolen Truck

Occurred on 5/24/12, 05:02 am  Burglary of a Business/Evading    4703 Ayers   1205240022/0023 

Officers in the area of a suspicious subject call observed a red truck and two males by the Roger’s Beer Barn.  One man took off running, while the other one jumped into the truck which had been reported stolen and fled.  The driver of the red truck refused to stop as Officers tried to pull him over.  The driver sped away, dumping beers and a cooler along the way. 

A pursuit ensued with the truck striking a curb causing a rear tire to go flat.  As the truck passed by McBride and the IH 37 access, an Officer recognized the driver.  The truck stopped unexpectedly at 100 Donna causing the Officer pursuing him to also stop.  His police car was struck by the Officer following him.  There was minor damage to the police cars and both Officers were uninjured.  The driver bailed out, fleeing out on foot.   The K-9 Patrol  Unit was called to help search for the suspect, but were unable to locate him.

Officers at Roger’s Beer Barn reported the business had indeed been burglarized.  The burglars pried open the steel door, allowing them to open the bay doors.  Officers impounded the stolen truck and recovered the stolen surveillance equipment, multiple 12-packs of beer, and snacks left inside the vehicle.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crimes Stoppers at 888-TIPS or you can also submit a tip online, visit the www.TipSubmit.com website to submit a secure e-mail tip.  The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

Narcotics/Vice Division

Seven Men Arrested in Prostitution Sting

On May 23, 2012, the Corpus Christi Police Department Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division conducted a reverse prostitution or “John Sting” in the North Central region of the city  in an effort to do away with the ever-present prostitution and drug problems.  Officers targeted those who solicit prostitutes.  The  six men were arrested after they offered money for sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute.

Those who were arrested were Rockdale resident Kendrick Lennell White, 33, McAllen resident Ronald Joseph Dunmore, 44, Portland resident Gerald Garza, 45, Houston resident Jose Socorro Facundo, 46, and Corpus Christi residents Marzino Mireles,32, and Robert Wesley Burke, 48.  Each person was arrested and taken to the City Detention Center where they each charged with Prostitution. 

Burke was additionally charged with Evading and Resisting Arrest.  Vernal Williams, 24, was also arrested for a Class “C” Theft when he took one of the decoy officer’s money. 

The Prostitution charge is a Class “B” Misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 180 days and a $2,000 fine.

Kendrick White Prostitution
Ronald Dunmore Prostitution
Marzino Mireles Prostitution
Gerald Garza Prostitution
Jose Facundo Prostitution
Vernal Williams Theft
Robert Burke Prostitution Evading, & Resisting Arrest
Adam District

Police Arrest Two After Gunshots Fired

Occurred on 5/23/12, 10:34 pm  Discharging a Firearm  4026 Gloria   1205230149  

Callers reported they heard a couple of shots fired in the area of Gloria and Vera Cruz.  As Officers drove up to 4026 Gloria, they observed Hilario Tovar (10/22/73) hide a pistol beneath a plastic bag. 

Further investigation revealed Tovar was also the shooter.  Tovar was arrested and booked at the City Detention Center.  He was charged with Discharging a Firearm Within City Limits which is a Class “A” misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

The owner of the firearm, Robert Perez (04/19/64) was also arrested for an outstanding Municipal Court warrant.

Delta District

Student’s Taco Run turns Violent

Occurred on 5/22/12. 8:45 am  Aggravated Assault  3201 Leopard Street   1205220036/C1203919

A Miller High School student’s taco run turned violent when he cancels his order.  The 17-year-old student told Officers he stopped by Torres Taqueria at  3302 Leopard Street and ordered several tacos.  When he realized he was late for school, the student cancelled his order.  As he hurried to school, the student was chased down by a blue Dodge Ram pick-up truck in the Auto Zone parking lot.  The driver missed striking the victim with his truck, but did land several blows after confronting the student.  The student was punched in the face several times before he was able to escape and run to the welding shop.

The driver Guillermo Torres (05/13/93) re-entered his truck and kept trying to run him over as he fled.  Torres left the roadway at 600 Rose Street and struck the abandoned Republic Annex Building while chasing after the victim.  Neither the driver nor the student sustained any injuries as a result of the accident, but both were injured during the struggle.  The victim was treated at the scene by CCFD Emergency Personnel.  Torres was taken to the Spohn Memorial for a laceration to the head.  He was treated and medically cleared before being booked at the City Detention Center.  Torres was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Delta District

Officers Drive Up on Robbery

Occurred on 5/22/12, 10:09 am  Robbery   3201 S. Staples Street   1205220049 

Officers searching for a suspect involved in a disturbance at the Corner Mart, 3201 S. Staples Street found him in the 3500 block of S. Staples where he appeared to be involved in a verbal dispute.

Further investigation revealed, the suspect Gregory Huckvale (06/22/70) was in the process of robbing the victim.  The 52-year-old victim told Officers he was talking on his cell phone when Huckvale walked up to the victim demanding his cash.  Huckvale threatened to assault the victim if he didn’t give him some money.

The Officers arrival interrupted the robbery before the victim was assaulted.  The suspect quickly walked away, but was detained at Carroll and Dabney.  Huckvale was arrested and booked at the City Detention.  He was charged with Robbery.

Criminal Intelligence Unit

Sex Offender Arrested for Indecent Exposure

Andre Samuel

 


Occurred on 5/22/12, 1:14 pm  Wanted Subject  2111 S. Staples Street   1205220082

 

 
Officers looking for wanted subject Andre Samuel (09/25/72) found him at his place of employment.  Senior Officer B. Rodriguez arrested and booked Samuel at the City Detention Center.

Samuel was charged with the outstanding Indecent Exposure warrant along with the Motion to Revoke for Sexual Assault.

For more information see the two previous blotter entries: http://wp.me/p1D8kP-1zm and http://wp.me/p1D8kP-1DT.

Bravo District

Young Woman Dies in Wreck

Occurred on 5/22/12, 2:10 am  Major Accident   12700 S. Padre Island Drive   C1203911

The Corpus Christi Police Department Traffic Division is investigating a fatal one vehicle accident which occurred in the 12700 block of S. Padre Island Drive. The 20 year-old driver was traveling eastbound when she lost control of her white Chevrolet Aveo and collided with the concrete median.

She was rushed to Spohn Memorial where she died from the injuries sustained in the accident.  Officers report there were no signs of alcohol being a factor in the accident.  The investigation will continue.

Criminal Intelligence Unit, Criminal Investigations Division

Suspect Identified in Del Mar College Indecent Exposure Investigation

Andre Samuel

The Corpus Christi Police Department is asking the public’s assistance in helping locate a wanted sex offender who exposed himself to a Del Mar College student on May 7, 2012. The original blotter entry at http://wp.me/p1D8kP-1zm was posted on May 10, 2012.

D. Berry with the Corpus Christi Police Department Sex Offender Unit recognized Andre Samuel (09/25/72) as the suspect involved in the indecent exposure investigation.  Subsequently, Homicide/Robbery Detective D. Perez was able to obtain a warrant for Samuel after the victim positively identified him in a photo line-up.  Detective Perez also contacted Samuel’s probation officer at the Nueces County Supervision & Corrections Department and a Motion to Revoke warrant was issued.    

Samuel is currently wanted for the Indecent Exposure warrant and a Nueces County warrant for Motion to Revoke Probation for Sexual Assault. Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of this suspect is encouraged to call Crimes Stoppers at 888-TIPS or you can also submit a tip online, visit the www.TipSubmit.com website to submit a secure e-mail tip.  The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.