All posts by Kirk Stowers

Bravo District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

1 Man Has 3 Crashes And 2 Arrests For D.W.I. In 5 Days

Occurred Friday, June 15, 2012, 20:35, Airline Rd. & Alameda St. D.W.I. 1206150142, C1204594, C1204592, C1204479, & 1206100132

A 47-year-old man was arrested for driving while intoxicated for the second time in 5 days after he was involved in a series of vehicle crashes near Alameda and Airline.

Bryant Ficken (12/4/1964) operated a white 2006 GMC Sierra Friday night and was involved in a crash at the 4600 block of Ocean Drive. Ficken left the scene without providing information as required. The vehicle that was struck by Ficken followed Ficken to Airline and then saw Ficken’s truck strike another vehicle.

Corpus Christi Police patrol officers arrived and concluded Ficken was intoxicated. Ficken had open containers of alcoholic beverages in the cab of the truck and Ficken was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

The Officers on scene knew Ficken was involved in a crash in a different vehicle at the 200 block of Airline Road on June 10, 2012. Ficken was also arrested for Driving While Intoxicated in that event last Sunday.

Ficken was taken to the Spohn Shoreline Hospital for a medical evaluation before delivery to the city detention center. While the investigating officer completed the report, Ficken ran in an attempt to escape. Ficken was quickly re-captured and then additionally charged. Ficken was delivered to the city detention center for Driving While Intoxicated and escape from custody and faces additional charges.

The First crash that involved Ficken on June 10 resulted in minor injuries to the one other person involved. The two crashes that involved Ficken on June 15 resulted in minor injuries to two of the three other people involved. The third other involved person was not injured.

Bravo District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Man Arrested For Reckless Driving That Caused A Crash

Occurred Friday, June 15, 2012, 11:00am, 6300 Holly Road, Reckless Driving 1206150053 & C1204574

An 18-year-old man was arrested Friday morning for reckless driving after a vehicle crash at Airline and Williams.

Corpus Christi Police were called for a moving disturbance that involved people in two separate vehicles. Police patrol officers saw a blue 2007 Lincoln Navigator travel 80 miles per hour on Holly Road, then turn onto Sean Drive and travel at a dangerous speed through the neighborhood until stopped by police.

Police officers discovered the operator of the Navigator, 18 year old Albert Trevino (6/25/1993) caused a crash at Airline and Williams, then fled the scene of the crash without providing information as required by law. Trevino was arrested for reckless driving and then taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation before delivery to the city detention center.

Reckless driving is described as the operation of a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The offense is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and up to a $200 fine.

Delta District, Narcotics/Vice Division, Patrol Division

Two Injured When A Bottle Burst

Occurred Friday, June 15, 2012, 11:45am, 1400 Mestina Street, prohibited weapon 1206150062

Two people were injured Friday when a bottle burst on the sidewalk on the 1400 block of Mestina Street.

A 48-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man told Corpus Christi Police they were injured they picked up and shook a bottle they found on the street.

The Corpus Christi Bomb Squad investigated the evidence at the scene and determined the bottle was used to manufacture narcotics. The commander of the Corpus Christi Police Emergency Response Unit, Captain David Cook, described the method of manufacture as a “one pot cook.” Captain Cook said the two injured are part of a transient population and they were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The two injured people refused medical treatment and left the hospital on their own.

Captain Cook said tests were conducted to identify substances on scene and the evidence was collected for more tests that will be conducted in a controlled environment.

An offense report was generated by police for prohibited weapons because of the nature of the item constructed; however, the charges will likely be adjusted to manufacturing narcotics once more specific information can be verified. The woman and the man may face criminal charges of manufacturing a controlled substance once the specific information is verified.

This type of manufacturing is not safe and should be reported to police immediately if observed. There are a few indicators that someone may attempt this method of manufacturing which include having strong chemical odors like photo developing chemicals or ammonia odors that smell like cat urine. Garbage that contains an unusual amount of glass containers and coffee filters are an indicator that someone is operating a clandestine lab. There may be burn pits or dead spots in the yard that are evidence of chemical waste dumping near someone who manufactures narcotics. The manufacturing not only is harmful to the people nearby, but very harmful to the environment and should be reported immediately.

Delta District, Gang Unit, Patrol Division

Two Arrested For Deadly Conduct

Update to Case #1206100033 Deadly Conduct, 2529 Tarlton St.

Two men were arrested Wednesday for warrants for arrest they had for shooting at a house last Sunday at 3:40am.

Corpus Christi Police arrested 19-year-old Israel Mendoza (7/28/1992) and 20-year-old John Flores (2/18/1992) for discharging a firearm at a residence located at 2529 Tarlton Street. No injuries were reported in relation to the deadly conduct on Tarlton St. Corpus Christi Police obtained the warrants for the arrest of the two men, then apprehended them at their place of residence.

Each is charged with Deadly Conduct, a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

John Flores
Israel Mendoza
Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division

Man Steals Womens Bike

Occurred Monday, May 14, 2012, 4pm, 3829 Highway 77, Theft 1205140122

Corpus Christi Police would like help from the public to identify and locate a man who took a bicycle from the Wal-Mart in Callallen without paying.

Monday, May 14, 2012, a white man who wore a blue cap and an orange shirt took a women’s 26 inch Panama Jack bicycle valued at $165 and left the store without paying for the bike. Store employees released a photograph of the man who stole the bike to police.

Anyone interested to research reported crime in Corpus Christi are encouraged to visit Crimereports.com for valuable information.

Anyone with additional information about this crime should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com. If the information provided leads to an arrest, the person that provided the information could earn a cash reward.

Bravo District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Woman Injured In Apartment When Car Strikes Wall

Occurred Monday, June 11, 2012, 8:05pm, 3701 Cimarron Boulevard, Vehicle Crash C1204500

A 29-year-old woman was injured in her apartment after a red 2001 Ford Mustang drove into the wall from the apartment parking lot.

The 29-year-old woman was treated at the scene for minor injuries and was not taken to the hospital. A 20-year-old woman drove the Mustang with two passengers into the air conditioner exterior unit and the wall. No one inside the car was hurt. The cause of the crash is listed as failure to control speed.

No citations were yet issued and the 29-year-old woman has arrangements with the apartment complex for overnight accommodations for tonight.

Delta District, Patrol Division

Masked Men Attempt Burglary While Woman Home

Occurred Friday, June 8, 2012, 10:00am, 123 Del Mar, Burglary of Habitation 1206100117

A 41-year-old woman was at her home on Del Mar Boulevard Friday morning when three men attempted to break into the home.

The 41-year-old woman looked out her front window after she heard the doorbell ring. The woman did not expect visitors and did not announce she was home. The woman saw a man outside her front door that the woman described as Africa-American, early 20’s in age, 5 ft. 10 in. tall, clean-cut, thin and had a series of black characters, which were possibly Chinese symbols, tattooed on the left side of the neck.

The woman said the man walked to a vehicle parked further down the street and then backed that vehicle to the side of her home by the locked gate. The woman said three black men that wore black clothing and masks got out of the vehicle and jumped her fence into her back yard. The woman said one of the men saw her and then the three ran back to the maroon sport utility vehicle and left.

The woman said the vehicle had strongly tinted and she was unable to see inside the vehicle. The woman said the vehicle was last seen northbound on Ocean Drive.

Anyone with additional information about this crime should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip at www.888TIPS.com. If the information leads to an arrest, it could earn the caller a cash reward.

Anyone that has a stranger approach the door should let the stranger know there is someone home. Do not open the door and call police if there is any cause for alarm.

Criminal Investigations Division

FBI Recognizes Corpus Christi Police Employee

A Corpus Christi Police Department employee was recognized Monday with a letter signed by F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller for work conducted to a successful prosecution of a registered sex offender.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation identified Corpus Christi resident Brian Puckett (11/3/1965) as in a group that actively searched child pornography images on the internet. Puckett concealed his online identity; but, the F.B.I. and the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was able to establish Puckett’s online activity. Puckett was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his illegal conduct.

Diane Berry’s work is considered to have significantly contributed to the investigation and led to the successful prosecution of a child predator.

Community Outreach, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Corpus Christi Will Have Strict Parking Enforcement By Mid-Summer

The Corpus Christi Police Department parking control will begin to strictly enforce residential parking in order to provide a safer environment for the community.

The parking control officers will not only patrol the downtown area for parking violations, but will now also focus attention with police patrol officers to vehicles parked facing traffic and vehicles that are parked on the sidewalk. State law requires sidewalks to be free from obstructions and permit pedestrian traffic in a safe manner. Vehicles parked facing traffic is also prohibited by state law and is a safety hazard for passing traffic.

Parking control officers and police patrol officers will spend the next couple weeks making the effort to educate the public about the violations. Parking control officers will distribute information cards to vehicles in violation before the strict enforcement begins. The laws are not new, but, the strict enforcement will begin in mid summer.

A few reminders about parking are that the passenger side tires must be parked less than 18 inches from the curb, do not park on the sidewalks, and trailers may not be parked on the street unless attached to a vehicle capable of towing the trailer.

Community Outreach

Police Department Conducts Physical Condition Pre-Assessment

TAMUCC assistant professor of kinisiology Jay Dawes keeps time as an officer completes the mile and a half run

The Corpus Christi Police Department will conduct the physical fitness pre-assessment at the Police Training Center from June 11- June 15, 2012.

The purpose of this pre-assessment is to evaluate the officer’s fitness level before the actual assessment in November. Trainers will set goals for improvement and allow time for training so that the officers will perform well for the annual fitness assessment.

The Corpus Christi Police Department began the Physical Readiness Fitness Program in 2010. The purpose of the wellness testing is to improve the quality of life for the officers and seek to benefit the city with less money spent on sick time, disability and liability. The citizens benefit with better services by law enforcement officers that are in peak physical health.

The policy has a focus on fitness, health and nutrition and provides resources and encouragement for officers to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The fitness assessments administered annually promote growth and improvement to a desired level of fitness.

The Corpus Christi Police Department established the physical readiness program to increase or maintain high aerobic activity, good muscular strength, and good muscular endurance. The physical fitness test includes six events which are the 1 minute maximum push-ups, 1 minute maximum sit-ups, vertical jump, 1 repetition maximum bench press, 300 meter run, and the 1 ½ mile run.

The program is voluntary for the officers and offers incentive for participation. The program is evaluated by the full-time training academy staff and includes an adjunct fitness trainer for this pre-assessment this year. The physical training and the fitness pre-assessment have the help from Jay Dawes, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the Texas A&M University Corpus Christi campus. Mr. Dawes began to volunteer with the Corpus Christi police department in January 2012 and has increased the performance of officer’s physical training.

Mr. Dawes often helps the training academy staff with three daily workouts available to all Corpus Christi Police Officers. The Corpus Christi Police Department has the goal to have all employees be physically fit and healthy in order to provide the highest quality service to the Corpus Christi community.

Training Academy Trainer Senior Officer Travis Pace spots the maximum bench press event