All posts by Kirk Stowers

Delta District

Man Arrested For Facilitating The Escape Of A Mother Who Endangered Her Child

Occurred April 3, 2012, 1:12am HINDERING APPREHENSION 1426 PAIGE     1204030001

 

A 17-year-old man was arrested Tuesday morning for hindering apprehension for his part to facilitate the escape of a mother who endangered her 2-year-old child.

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to information that a child may be in neglect at the 1400 block of Paige. The Patrol Officers were familiar with the address for previous calls for service. The officers discovered a two-year old child was outside the apartment unsupervised and in a dangerous condition. The officers located the mother and discovered the interior of the apartment was a hazardous condition for any child. Other violations revealed in the investigation so the officers contacted Child Protective Services to respond and evaluate the circumstance.

The mother was placed under arrest, but allowed to gather a car seat and other items for the child. Seventeen year old Deonte Jones (12/14/1994) had arrived to assist and held the child while the mother gathered the necessary items. Jones caused a distraction for the officers and got between the mother and the officers which allowed the mother to escape through a window and flee.

The child was placed in the custody of the Child Protective Services. Jones was arrested for Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, a 3rd degree felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Delta District

Woman Pays Court Fine With Couterfeit Money At Police Headquarters

Occurred Monday, April 02, 2012, 2:10pm 321 John Sartain St., Forgery of Financial Instrument 1204020076

A 26-year-old woman was arrested Monday for attempting to pay her court fine at the main Corpus Christi Police Station with counterfeit money.

Corpus Christi Municipal Court employees called a police officer after 26-year-old Tawanya Rabb (9/5/1985) presented several 20 dollar bills to pay for a fine. The court employees said the bills were obviously defective and Rabb passed the money in person at the first floor of the building. Police accepted the bills as evidence and then arrested Rabb for forgery of a financial instrument, a state jail felony punishable by up to 2 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Rabb was additionally arrested for an outstanding Municipal Court Warrant for her arrest.

Traffic Safety Division

Several Arrested Over The Weekend For Driving While Intoxicated

Occurred Friday, March 30, 2012, Driving While Intoxicated 4000 Kevin Dr. 1203300136

A 44-year-old man was arrested for driving while intoxicated Friday night at the 4000 block of Kerry Drive.

The Corpus Christi Police were called to the area of Weber and Saratoga at 9:45pm by citizen’s complaints of an intoxicated driver that operated a gray Ford F-150 truck.  A Patrol officer located a gray 2002 Ford F-150 with the same license plate characters as from the citizen’s complaints.

The Patrol officer initiated a traffic stop and contacted the only occupant of the truck, Cornelius Gallegos (8/6/1970). The Patrol officer identified clues that Gallegos was intoxicated while he operated his vehicle on a public roadway. Gallegos was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

The Corpus Christi Police completed 12 Driving While Intoxicated arrests and one Driving Under The Influence arrest over the past weekend from March 30 until April 1. There were 9 arrests for a first offense of Driving While Intoxicated, 1 arrest for a 2nd Offense of Driving While Intoxicated (the person was once previously convicted of Driving While Intoxicated), 1 arrest for a 3rd offense of Driving While Intoxicated (the person was previously convicted at least twice for prior D.W.I.), and 1 arrest for Driving While Intoxicated with a child passenger.

There was also 1 arrest for Driving Under The Influence which is a person less than the age of 21 with any detectable amount of alcoholic beverages that operates a vehicle on a public roadway.

Community Outreach

“A Phone Call Is Not Worth The Risk” Public Service Announcement

The Corpus Christi Police Department shares parents concern about the safety of our children on their way to school. The Texas Transportation Code states that all drivers are prohibited from cell phone use in active school zones unless they use a hands free device. (when signs are posted: Transportation Code section 545.425).

The Corpus Christi Police will hold violators accountable for their actions to reduce the risk of accidents.

While you are in a school zone; drive your car, or talk on the phone, but don’t do both. No phone call is worth the risk.

Community Outreach

Town Hall Meeting At Tuloso Midway Primary School

There will be a Town hall meeting Monday, April 2, 2012 at 6:30 pm in the Tuloso-Midway Primary school cafeteria located at 3125 Deer Run.   Representatives from the Corpus Christi Police Department from the Police Narcotics Unit, the Gang Unit, Grafitti Investigations, Auto Theft Task Force and Directed Patrol will be present.

The meeting will focus on residential burglaries to include statistics from the past 6 months in comparison to the previous year’s 6 months. Everyone from the public is invited to attend.

Bravo District

Teenage Reckless Driver Arrested For Driving While Intoxicated And Evading Police

Occurred March 31,2012, at 12:08am 6500 Yorktown, Evading Arrest In A Vehicle 1203310008

An 18-year-old man was arrested Saturday morning for Driving While Intoxicated and Evading Arrest in a Vehicle after he drove recklessly in front of police on the Yorktown Boulevard.

A black 2005 GMC Yukon caught the attention of a Corpus Christi Police Officer when the Yukon slid through the intersection of Staples and Yorktown Saturday morning. The Police officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop and the Yukon accelerated. The Yukon went behind a business at Cimarron and Yorktown where the operator, 18-year-old Tad Humpal (12/17/1993) exited the vehicle and ran from police.

Humpal was captured by police and arrested for Evading Arrest in a Vehicle; a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, and Driving While Intoxicated; a Class B Misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

Delta District

Jaguar Crashes Into A Tree, Driver And Passenger Arrested

Occurred Friday, March 30, 2012 11:47pm, Evading Arrest with a  Vehicle 1203310006

Two men were arrested Friday Night at the 300 block of Norton after they fled from police then crashed into a palm tree in a Maroon 2000 Jaguar.

A Corpus Christi Police Officer observed the vehicle make a traffic violation at the 3000 block of South Port Avenue and the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The Jaguar accelerated and did not stop until it struck the palm tree at 325 Norton.

The operator of the Jaguar 22-year-old Daniel Gonzales (3/2/1990) and the passenger, 20-year-old Michael Barnes Morgan (7/24/1991) then fled from the jaguar running. Gonzales and Morgan were captured by police.

Gonzales was arrested for Evading Arrest with a Vehicle, a Third Degree Felony which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Morgan was arrested for Evading Arrest, and for Resisting Arrest Search or Transport. The charges against Morgan are Class A Misdemeanors, each punishable by up to 1 year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

There was no reason provided why the men fled from police.

Criminal Investigations Division

Watch Out For These Scams

Landlords and tenants should be wary because rental scams are on the rise as criminals move in to take advantage of the volatile housing market.

Many people never consider how easy it is to take advantage of someone looking for a property to rent. Few give it a second thought. Fewer still take the steps necessary to ensure the person they’re renting to or from isn’t a criminal until it’s too late.

Avoiding rental scams begins with understanding how they work. Once you know what to look for, your chances of identifying one before you hand over your money increase enormously.

Ploys used by scammers to steal rent money:

  • Renting with the intent of renting to others. This scam works just how it sounds. A scam artist rents a property so they can show it to other prospective renters. They’ll collect first and last month’s rent, security deposits and any fees or charges they can squeeze out of their victims before skipping town with the loot. There have been reports of a single property being leased or rented to dozens of people before the crook vanished with their money.
  • Renting on behalf of the owner. This scam is similar to the previous one but there’s one major difference: the scam artist claims to be helping someone else rent the property. They might be sick, or overseas, or just too busy to do it themselves for whatever reason. Once the scammer collects first, last, deposits and fees they skip town. The renter then discovers the home wasn’t for rent. The owners or renters may have been away for business or pleasure, or it’s a vacation home, or it could be a foreclosed property. Either way you’re out the money if you fall for it.
  • Nigerian Rental Scams. This scam is a variation of the two previous scams but differs in that it takes place on the internet and the scammer doesn’t need to be present and may never have been to the property. This scam is especially dangerous because it targets both property owners and renters. One flavor of this scam involves a crook finding a photo of a property and its address then posting them on Craigslist or other online rental websites hoping someone will be willing to wire them the first and last month’s rent, security deposits, and assorted fees (Sound familiar?). If you think no one falls for this, guess again. People are generally quite trusting and the ad will be so enticing that the potential renters will think they’re getting a bargain.

    A variation of this scam is the classic Nigerian 419 scam. Someone will answer an online posting for a property and ask to pay by Western Union or an equivalent money wiring service. If the landlord takes the bait, and many do, the renter will “accidently” pay too much. The renter will apologize and ask for the extra funds to be sent back to them. If the landlord doesn’t wait for the payment to clear the bank and sends the money, they’re out whatever they send. That’s the scam and it’s very successful.

Now that you know a few of the most common rental scams, let’s look at how to detect and avoid them! Below are some ways you can find out if you’re dealing with the actual property owner.

How to detect rental scams

  • Ask the landlord if you can see their ID.
  • Search local government websites for the rental properties address and make sure the name listed matches the landlord’s ID.
  • If a property management company is managing the condo, home or community, call them and ask whether the person you’re dealing with actually owns the property.
  • Your state or county should have information regarding property management companies and whether they’re actually managing the property you’re interested in. You should be able to find the contact information for the property management company in a building lobby or posted in a common area, such as the swimming pool cabana area or clubhouse.
  • If you are leasing in a gated community or a condominium, a rental application is almost always required. If the landlord doesn’t have one or doesn’t even know how to get one, I’d call that a red flag.
  • Use Google or another search engine to look up the properties address, land lord’s name and phone number phone number, etc. You might be surprised at what you find.
  • Considering how many homes are being foreclosed, don’t be afraid to ask if the landlord is current on their mortgage payments.
  • You can also consider getting help finding a rental property from a real-estate agent.

If you’re a property owner, we offer the following tips to help you protect your investment:

Rental Scam Tips for Property Owners

  • Keep a watchful eye on your home. If you don’t live nearby, consider hiring a home watch service to periodically check the home for odd activity.
  • Change the locks frequently if you rent the property often. If your previous tenants kept a copy of the keys, they have access to the home!
  • Ask potential tenants for references and follow up by checking them.
  • Verify your tenant’s employment by contacting their employer.
  • Run a credit check on potential tenants before renting to them.
  • Don’t let a tenant pay more than you asked for then demand a refund. If you give it to them, you’re out the money.
  • Use Google or another search engine to look up the name, phone number, and prior address. While you’re at it, check police records to find out if you’re dealing with a known criminal.

This may seem like a lot of work but much of it can be done quickly in front of your computer. If you ask anyone that’s been bilked out of their rent money, they’ll tell you it’s time well spent.

 

As with all scams, you can report them to IC3.gov and the BBB. If you wish to know more about scams, you can visit www.fraudguides.com and IC3 for the most current scams being run.

Delta District

Two Arrested For Aggravated Robbery On Kostoryz

Occurred March 31, 2012, 2:25am Aggravated Robbery 4322 Kostoryz 1203310021

An 18-year-old man had his car taken by force by five unknown men that had at least one handgun with them Saturday morning at an apartment complex at the 4300 block of Kostoryz.

Corpus Christi Police were called to the 1400 block of Seventeenth Street at about 2:25am to take the complaint of the stolen car. Police officers were told that the 18-year-old victim drove a new friend to the apartment complex and were approached by five men that took the car by force. The victim received minor injuries and provided a description of the car which was announced on the police radio.

Other officers sighted the black 2007 Chrysler 300 at Kilgore and Alexander and arrested the two occupants, 19-year-old Joe Brandon Bustamante (7/28/1992) and 19-year-old Christopher Dale Ramos (5/19/1992) for aggravated robbery. The Aggravated Robbery charge is punishable by up to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Bustamante was also arrested for possession of marijuana that was discovered incident to arrest which is a charge punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

The vehicle was impounded and the investigation continues to evaluate evidence and additional information.

The public may research reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi by searching Crimereports.com.

Community Outreach

April Is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Written by Shannon McFarlin

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and a time to focus on a crime that happens almost every two minutes in the United States (that means an average of 207,754 victims a year according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey). The goal of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

Sexual violence is a serious public health problem in the United States. Statistics underestimate the problem because many victims are afraid to tell the police, family, or friends about the violence.

Sexual violence is any sexual activity where consent is not freely given. This includes completed or attempted sex acts that are against the victim’s will or involve a victim who is unable to consent. It also includes abusive sexual contact and non-contact sexual abuse (such as sexual harassment). Child sexual abuse is also considered sexual violence.

This type of violence can be committed by a current or former intimate partner, a family member, a person in position of power or trust, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.

Sexual violence impacts health in many ways and can lead to long-term health and emotional problems. Victims may experience chronic pain, headaches, and sexually transmitted diseases. They are often fearful or anxious, and may have problems trusting others. Anger and stress can lead to eating disorders, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

Sexual assault is a most intimate crime, and when it happens in our most intimate sanctuaries—our homes—the trauma is devastating and difficult to escape. Healing from sexual violence can only happen on a foundation of safety and safety starts with home

The goal of Corpus Christi Police Department’s Victim Assistance Program is to raise the community’s awareness about sexual violence and to educate our community on how to prevent sexual violence. It is also important to learn how as a community we can be allies to survivors of sexual violence by believing and supporting them.

What can you do to help? For starters, educate yourself on the reality of sexual assault in our society today. Here’s a quick review in order to help:

Definitions:

Sexual assault: Forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration may be by a body part or an object.

Acquaintance assault: Involves coercive sexual activities that occur against a person’s will by means of force, violence, duress, or fear of bodily injury. These sexual activities are imposed upon them by someone they know (a friend, date, acquaintance, etc.).

Incest: Sexual contact between persons who are so closely related that their marriage is illegal (e.g., parents and children, uncles/aunts and nieces/nephews, etc.). This usually takes the form of an older family member sexually abusing a child or adolescent.

Consent: Consent occurs when both partners freely and willingly participate in sexual activities.

The legal definition of rape includes any sexual contact without consent. Consent cannot be legally given, in most states, if a person is:

– Under 17

– Mentally incapacitated

– Drunk or high

– Coerced

– Forced

Additionally, the absence of “no” does not mean “yes.” So, even if a person does not fight back or explicitly say “no,” they still are not necessarily giving consent.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Victim Advocates at the Corpus Christi Police Department:

Shae McFarlin (361) 826-2950           Laura Munoz (361) 886-2851

Sarah DeLeon (361) 826-2952           Debra Garcia (361)  886-2674