All posts by Kirk Stowers

Adam District, Patrol Division

Man Arrested Stealing Gas From Church Van

Occurred Thursday, May 17, 2012, 7:00am, 1701 Rand Morgan Road, Burglary to a Vehicle and Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information 1205170043

A 42-year-old man was arrested Thursday at The Bible Believers Baptist Church for siphoning gasoline out of a churh van in the parking lot.

A 52-year-old man had his attention raised when he saw a red 1989 Chevy 1500 pickup parked next to a white van that belongs to the church. The 52-year-old man discovered that 42-year-old James Cavett (4/18/1970) siphoned gasoline out of the church van.

Corpus Christi Police Officers arrived and discovered that Cavett had credit cards that did not belong to Cavett. Cavett was charged with Burglary of a motor vehicle and Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information. Cavett’s vehicle was taken to the city impound and Cavett was delivered to the city detention center.

The Burglary of a motor vehicle charge is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.  Cavett was charged with the burglary for entering the van (with the use of a hose) to take the gasoline. The Fraudulent Possession of Identifying Information charge is a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

The Corpus Christi Police Department encourages the use of locking gas caps to reduce the risk of this type of crime. Vehicles are usually safest when parked in a garage if one is available. Use a car alarm if the vehicle is so equipped. Watch for any unusual activity and call police immediately if there is a suspicious person.  Additional safety tips can be found at the Corpus Christi police website at www.cctexas.com/police.

Adam District, Patrol Division

Officer Injured Effecting A DWI Arrest

Occurred Monday, May 14, 2012, 2:10am, 11400 Interstate Highway 37 Driving While Intoxicated and Assault on a Public Servant C1203697, 1205140015, and 1205140029 

A 26-year-old man was arrested Monday after an attack on a Corpus Christi Police Officer that investigated a vehicle crash on Interstate Highway 37 near Hart Road.

Corpus Christi Police were called to investigate a black 2001 Pontiac Bonneville in the ditch alongside the freeway of Interstate Highway 37 at about 2:00am.  A person notified the police dispatcher that the driver was combative and attempting to leave.

A Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officer arrived and asked 26-year-old Victor Garcia (9/23/1985) to exit the vehicle. Garcia ignored the officer until the officer demanded Garcia exit the car. Garcia lunged at the officer from the driver seat and struggled with the officer until Garcia was placed under arrest and in handcuffs.

The officer received treatment from the hospital for a shoulder injury as a result of the struggle. Garcia was arrested for Assault on a Public Servant and for Driving While Intoxicated. The assault charge is a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The Driving While Intoxicated charge was enhanced for previous convictions to a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Central A/C Unit Stolen From Home While Man Sleeps

Occurred Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 2:00am, Theft 14900 Windward Drive 1205160013

Two air conditioner units were taken from two Padre Island homes overnight while the owner slept inside the home Wednesday.

A 54-year-old man said he discovered someone had tampered with his central air conditioner exterior unit and taken the neighbors unit during the night while he slept. The 54-year-old man said he woke to his dog’s barks which prompted him to investigate. The man then discovered the air conditioner units were taken and destroyed leaving an estimated value of damage at about $5,000.

The Corpus Christi Police Department has a crime prevention unit that can schedule a time with interested home owners to conduct a residential or business security survey. The Crime Prevention Specialists of the Police Community Relations Division are certified by the Texas Insurance Board to conduct Homeowners Insurance Premium Reduction Surveys. During these surveys, our experts determine if the home meets security standards set out by the Texas Insurance Board. If these requirements are met, your insurance company will generally allow you a reduction in your insurance premiums.

Interested property owners may find more information on the City of Corpus Christi website, www.cctexas.com or contact Brenda Moreno, Crime Prevention Advisor, at 361-886-2568. Anyone interested to research reported crime in Corpus Christi is encouraged to search Crimereports.com for a variety of information.

Anyone who has additional information about these air conditioner thefts should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or log on to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

Adam District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Corpus Christi Participates In Mock Contraflow Exercise

The Corpus Christi Police Department will participate with the Texas Department of Public Safety in an exercise Thursday to practice the state Contraflow hurricane evacuation plan along Interstate 37 between Corpus Christi and San Antonio.

The Texas Department of Transportation has partnered with the law enforcement agencies to conduct a mock Contraflow exercise to prepare for hurricane season. The Contraflow plan is that southbound lanes of Interstate Highway 37 would be reversed to carry two lanes of traffic northbound from Corpus Christi to San Antonio to help move people from Corpus Christi to San Antonio out of harm’s way during a large scale evacuation.

Transportation and law enforcement agencies will stage barricades for the mock exercise at the entrance and exit ramps along Interstate 37 in Nueces, San Patricio, Live Oak, Atascosa, and Bexar counties. The exercise is expected to begin at 8:00am and end around noon. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers will drive south to perform mock flushing of southbound traffic to clear Interstate 37 for contraflow traffic. Law enforcement is assigned to direct motorists to keep traffic flow moving. TxDOT and D.P.S. do not anticipate any disruption of traffic during the exercise.

All participants will meet at the TxDOT Corpus Christi District Office Thursday afternoon for a post-exercise review.

Contraflow will be considered only when the Corpus Christi area is threatened by a major hurricane and mandatory evacuations are issued. A decision to reverse I-37 will be made by local authorities working with the District Disaster Chairman (i.e., DPS) based on the strength of the storm and projected landfall.

The 2012 hurricane season will begin June 1 and extends to November 30. The public may view the contraflow brochures on the Texas Department of Transportation website at www.txdot.gov.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Patrol Officer Swims To Save Kayaker In Distress

Occurred Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 11:20 am, Open Water Rescue Event #1205019456

A 20 year old man was rescued at the beach Tuesday by Corpus Christi Police Officer John Shultz.

A 20 year old man went out in the water on a kayak and was knocked off the kayak by a wave. The 20 year old man was unable to get back into the kayak. The man’s brother was on shore at Beach Marker 99 near access road 2 and called for help.

Patrol Officer John Shultz put on his life vest and entered the water to provide help. Officer Shultz said the 20 year old man was fatigued and unable to get on the kayak without help. Officer Shultz said he held the kayak stable while the man got on the kayak. Officer Shultz said he held on to the kayak while the man paddled them both to shore. Officer Shultz and the man made it back to shore at about 12:07pm.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Man Arrested For Leaving 65 Year Old Woman Padlocked In A House

Occurred Sunday, May 13, 2012, 8:40am 4641 Abner, Unlawful Restraint 1205130051

A 64-year-old man was arrested Sunday after he locked a 65-year-old woman recovering from surgery inside her home which did not allow the woman to leave or anyone else to enter.

A 41-year-old woman went to the 65-year-old woman’s house to give a Mother’s Day blessing. The 41-year-old woman called Corpus Christi Police when the 65-year-old woman was found on the floor behind a door with a padlock on the exterior of the door.

Police called for an ambulance and 64-year-old Robert Peters (12/23/1947) arrived to unlock the padlock and provide access to the 65-year-old woman. The woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.

Peters was arrested for Unlawful Restraint-Exposing a Person to Serious Bodily Injury, a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Anyone interested to research reported crime in Corpus Christi is encouraged to search Crimereports.com for valuable information. The site is updated daily and includes an option to communicate with police about criminal activity.

Bravo District, Community Outreach, Patrol Division

Police Reach Out For Crime Prevention

Corpus Christi Police Officers under the direction of Police Captain Tim Wilson were at the Sunrise Mall Saturday, May 12, to distribute crime prevention information in anticipation of school dismissal for the summer.

Captain Wilson is responsible for the Bravo District of the Corpus Christi Police Department which is the east portion of the city that includes Padre Island, Flour Bluff, and the area of town between Staples Street and the Oso Bay. Captain Wilson said a crime trend that has his focus are burglaries to residences and to vehicles.

Captain Wilson said 25% of all residential burglaries are through unlocked or open doors. This is often when a homeowner conducts yard work and leaves the garage door open. Captain Wilson suggests to lock windows and doors and keep the garage door closed.

Captain Wilson also recommends that valuables not be left in boats overnight which accounts for many thefts in the Bravo District. Another recommendation is that valuables not be left in a car. Captain Wilson said, “If you plan on leaving your purse in the trunk, take what you need from it and place it in the trunk before leaving home.”

Captain Wilson said Police have discovered thieves watch for valuables in the trunk. Some models of vehicles have an active trunk release when the key is not in the ignition. Everyone is encouraged to evaluate their vehicle for this function and beware that a thief can easily break into the passenger compartment of the car and have access to the trunk.

Captain Wilson identified the majority of the burglaries are committed overnight by juvenile males. The Corpus Christi Police will increase strict enforcement of the city ordinance (CC33-40) that prohibits juveniles age 16 and younger to be in a public place from 11:00pm to 6:00am unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Captain Wilson expressed the importance to observe the night-time curfew.

Captain Wilson promoted Crimereports.com which is a public site that provides a variety of information to include all reported crime in Corpus Christi. The information is updated daily and Captain Wilson said, “Stay informed and beat the criminals!”

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Man With Warrant For Arrest Caught Looking In Cars

Occurred Monday, May 14, 2012, 12:30pm, Aberdeen Ave./Santa Fe St. Evading Arrest 1205140079

A 27-year-old man was arrested Monday afternoon after a brief chase from Corpus Christi Police in the area of Aberdeen Avenue and Santa Fe Street.

Corpus Christi Police were called to check a suspicious man who wore a black shirt and white shorts with tattoos on his face and arms because the man went through the parking lot of an apartment complex looking into vehicles. The man saw Corpus Christi Police Officers and ran until he was captured at the 300 block of Dolphin Place.

The man refused to identify himself to the police officers. The man was taken to the city detention center where he was identified as 27-year-old Pedro Perez (3/13/1985). Officers discovered Perez had an active warrant for his arrest; so, Perez was arrested for Evading Arrest or Detention, the warrant for arrest, and Fail to Identify as a Fugitive.

The Evading Arrest charge is a State Jail Felony (an enhanced charge) punishable by up to two years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The Fail to Identify charge is a Class A misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 1 year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

Community Outreach

2012 Police Memorial Day Ceremony

The 2012 Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony was held Monday, May 14th at 10:30am at the Solomon Ortiz International Center Outdoor Plaza. The Ceremony was hosted by the Corpus Christi Police Department, the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office and the Port of Corpus Christi Police Department and honors all local peace officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson (Pictured above with the Corpus Christi Police honor Guard) was the keynote speaker for the 2012 Sixth Annual Coastal bend Regional Peace Officer’s Memorial Day Ceremony. Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin and Port of Corpus Christi Police Chief H. Archambo delivered testimonials in honor of the officers. City Council Member Chris Adler read the City Council Proclamation that designated May 15 as Police Memorial Day. The Corpus Christi Citizens Police Academy Alumni served a lunch to all who attended the ceremony.

Twenty one Peace Officers were honored for having sacrificed their lives in service for their community. The Officers honored were:

Corpus Christi City Marshal Elias Mussett, End of Watch May 6, 1892;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Luther Prather, End of Watch September 14, 1919;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Joseph Moon, End of Watch June 10, 1938;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Roy Smith, End of Watch April 20, 1953;

Corpus Christi Police Officer John Sartain, End of Watch August 20, 1971;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Ruben Almanza, End of Watch July 27, 1984;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Joseph Bock, End of Watch September 9, 1987;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Juan Prieto, End of Watch February 2, 1993;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Matthew Thebeau, End of Watch January 20, 2008;

Corpus Christi Police Officer Stuart Alexander, End of Watch March 11, 2009;

Port of Corpus Christi Police Officer James Saavedra, End of Watch December 19, 2007;

Nueces County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Nolan, End of Watch August 13, 1860;

Nueces County Sheriff Matthew Nolan, End of Watch December 22, 1864;

Nueces County Sheriff Dennis Kelly, End of Watch June 13, 1870;

Nueces County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Shaw, End of Watch September 1877;

Nueces County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Downs Jr., End of Watch October 16, 1932;

Nueces County Sheriff’s Deputy, Lieutenant Irvin Brown, End of Watch February 13, 1995;

Nueces County Constable Patrick Freely (Precinct 1), End of Watch March 25, 1917;

Nueces County Constable’s Deputy R.R. Bledsoe (Precinct 1), End of Watch July 5, 1925;

Nueces County Constable Carl Bisbee (Precinct 1), End of Watch July 6, 1925;

Nueces County Constable’s Deputy Patrick Runyon (Precinct 6), End of Watch February 7, 1981.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Woman Fatally Injured In Parking Lot Crash

Occurred Sunday, May 13, 2012, 9:30am, 1821 S. Padre Island Dr. vehicle crash C1203685

A 45-year-old woman was fatally injured after she fell out of a vehicle Sunday morning in a shopping center parking lot at the 1800 block of South Padre Island Drive.

A 46-year-old man drove a blue 1978 Chevy van with the 45-year-old woman inside. The 45-year-old woman fell out of the vehicle and was run over by the same van from which she was a passenger. An ambulance rushed the 45-year-old woman to the hospital; but, the woman did not survive the injuries.

Corpus Christi Police Crash investigators took the van to the city impound and the 46-year-old man was questioned by investigators.

No arrests or formal charges have been applied and the investigation is not complete. Investigators continue to gather evidence and information about this event.

Corpus Christi Police urge safe practices such as the use of seatbelts and avoidance of distracted driving to reduce the risk of injury.