All posts by Kirk Stowers

Bravo District

Late Night Robbery At a Restaurant

Occurred Monday, March 26, 2012 11:32pm  Aggravated Robbery 6542 Staples 1203270003

Two men used a gun when they conducted a robbery at the 6500 block of Staples Street Monday night at a restaurant that was closed for business for the night.

The manager of the store went outside the building to get a mop when he was approached by a man who presented a pistol and demanded the valuables from the manager. A second suspect appeared with a prybar displayed as a weapon. The suspects escorted the manager into the restaurant and went to the office. The robbers then took cash and left the restaurant. No injuries were reported to police.

The first suspect is described as a black male that wore a black long sleeve button up shirt, black pants possibly Dickies brand and black shoes. The first suspect wore a black hood/mask over his head with eye holes cut out and was wearing white athletic gloves with black trim and may work, or has worked, in the restaurant business. A witness said the black shoes worn by the first suspect appeared to be from a Shoes for Crews catalog and looked like the Explorer Style. The witness also observed the backpack used by the first suspect which appeared to have the JanSport logo.

The second suspect is described as a black male that wore a black hoodie, black pants and black shoes with a white cloth covering his face with eye holes cut out and was wearing black gloves.

Both suspects are estimated to be in age between 25 to 35 years.

Police would like help from the public to obtain additional information about this crime. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 888TIPS or logon to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division

$8,000 In Copper Taken From A Business

Occurred Monday, March 26, 2012 overnight Copper Theft 1203260034

Over $8,000 worth of copper was stolen from a business overnight and Corpus Christi Police would like help from the community to apprehend the persons responsible.

Police were called to 8421 Up River Road for theft of copper. The manager of the business told police that the air conditioner units for several portable offices were damaged and the copper was removed. The manager of the business said the theft took place over the weekend between Friday at 6pm and Monday at 8am.

Anyone with any information should call crime stoppers at 888TIPS or logon to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided may earn the caller a cash reward.

Delta District

Man Arrested For Shooting At An Apartment Building

Occurred Saturday, March 24, 2012 7:35pm Aggravated Assault 1203240126

A 23-year-old man was arrested Saturday night after he shot at an apartment on the 1000 block of 25th Street.

Corpus Christi Police were called to the apartments on the 1000 block of 25th Street at 7:35 pm after witnesses saw 23-year-old Joe Guerrero (2/27/1989) discharge a firearm at one of the apartments. The witnesses said some people took the firearm away from Guerrero and then Guerrero forced his way into an apartment. Witnesses said Guerrero made threats to the people inside the apartment until Guerrero was forced outside the apartment.

Police arrived and Guerrero ran from police officers. Police officers captured Guerrero and Guerrero struggled with police until Guerrero was restrained.

Guerrero was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault, Burglary with intent to commit a felony, Criminal Trespass, Evading Arrest, and Resist arrest, search or transport.

No injuries were reported and police continue to investigate the reasons for this confrontation.

Bravo District

Road Rage Results in Stabbing

Occurred Sunday, March 25, 2012 2:05am   Aggravated Assault 1203250031

A 26-year-old man was arrested Sunday morning for stabbing a 17-year-old man after a confrontation over poor driving.

Corpus Christi Police were called to a gas station at 7201 South Padre Island Drive for a fight that ended with a person cut by a knife. Officers arrived and met the 17-year-old victim who told police that he was stabbed after confronting a man about poor driving. Police described the victim’s injuries as non-life threatening.

Police were told that the confrontation started on the highway and the two drivers went to the gas station and exited their vehicles. The victim said he and the other driver got into a fist fight and then the victim was stabbed. The victim told police his attacker left before police arrived.

Police were provided information about the attacker and 26-year-old Jamal Alexander Dennis (2/24/1986) was arrested at his house for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charge is a 2nd degree felony which is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

Police encourage everyone not to confront aggressive drivers or take out frustrations on other drivers. Concerned drivers should call police at 911 to report any safety hazard.

Adam District, Traffic Safety Division

12 Apprehended After Suburban Evades From Police

Occurred March 25, 2012 9:20pm  IH 37   Bailout  1203250145

Twelve individuals were apprehended by Corpus Christi Police after a vehicle chase that started on Interstate Highway 37 Sunday night.

A Corpus Christi Police Officer saw a white 1996 Chevy Suburban travel north on the 3900 block of Interstate Highway 37 and change lanes without the use of a turn signal. The officer then saw the suburban travel in the center of the roadway and straddle the center stripes which did not allow other vehicles to pass. Once closer to the vehicle, the officer also observed a safety violation which prompted the officer to initiate a traffic stop.

The suburban fled from the officer and other officers successfully employed a tire deflation system to cause the suburban to stop. Twelve individuals ran from the suburban. All twelve of the individuals were captured by law enforcement.

Eleven of the individuals from the suburban were transferred to the custody of U.S. Border Patrol. The 44-year-old driver of the suburban, Paul Benavides (9/14/1967) was taken to the city detention center by the Corpus Christi Police for evading in a vehicle.

Delta District, Traffic Safety Division

Arrest Made In Hit And Run Fatality on BrownLee Blvd.

Occurred February 16, 2012 Fatality Hit and Run Case # 1202160148 & C1201201 –Update

Corpus Christi Police Investigators have identified the person responsible for the hit and run crash that resulted in the death of 40-year-old Rudy Garcia.

Rudy Garcia rode a bicycle on the 200 block of BrownLee Boulevard on Thursday, February 16, 2012. Garcia was struck from behind by a truck and Garcia did not survive the crash.

Corpus Christi investigators collected evidence from the crime scene and used trace analysis to identify clues. The investigators identified specific parts of a vehicle damaged in the crash and then called vendors that sold those specific parts. More information from the public was collected by investigators and a suspect was identified.

Corpus Christi Police obtained a warrant for arrest for Antonio Alamo (6/2/1973) on Friday, March 23, 2012. Alamo was arrested and has a $100,000 bond for an Accident Involving Personal Injury Or Death.

The Texas Transportation Code section 550.021 provides the requirements for this type of event. The code states the operator of a vehicle involved in a accident that results in the inury or death of a person shall stop and report the crash to emergency responders. Failure to report the crash which results in a death is a third degree felony which is punishable by up to 10 years inprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

Community Outreach

Officers Promoted by Chief Simpson

Occurred March 23, 2012  12:00pm    3122 Leopard    Officers Promotion

Corpus Christi Police Chief, Floyd Simpson, promoted officers Raymond Harrison, Mary Helen Leal, and Jason Rhodes to the rank of Senior Officer Friday.

            

Pictured above: Mary Helen Leal and Chief Simpson;  Jason Rhodes promoted by Chief Simpson       

The officers on the Corpus Christi Police Department must complete 60 months of work experience to apply for promotion. The applicants for promotion must then pass a proficiency examination at city hall in order to advance in grade to the rank of Senior Officer.

Chief Simpson pinned the rank onto the new senior officers in a ceremony with an audience that included City Council At Large David Loeb, State Representative for District 32 Todd Hunter, District 4 Councilperson Chris Adler, and a host of fellow Police Officers.

Chief Simpson gave comments which included the point that he has toured the department and he likes what he has seen. Chief Simpson said the department organization will change in a progressive manner and good officers will be recognized and elevated.

Chief Simpson said he has a priority to outfit the officers with the needed supplies to do the work tasked to them. Chief Simpson said he intends to improve the safety of the work environment for the officers and to the public very quickly in ways which include the placement of road flares and fire extinguishers in the patrol cars.

Chief Simpson answered questions from the audience and then closed by recognizing the accomplishments of the officers that were promoted to the rank of Senior Officer.

Bravo District

Police Request Help to Catch aTire Slasher

               

Occurred June 13, 2011 at 2:33am  1800 RoddField Rd. Criminal Mischief   1206130029

Corpus Christi Police are searching for a man who caused nearly $500 damage to a truck that was parked at the 1800 block of RoddField Road last June, 6, 2011.

The victim has produced a video that shows the man cut the tires on a Gray 2010 Chevy Silverado and Police need help from the public to identify the man in the video. The victim in this case does not know the man shown in the video and hopes these photographs will lead to more information to conclude this case.

This offense is a Class B Misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and as much as a $2,000 fine. Anyone with additional information about this case are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (888-8477) or log on to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

Community Outreach

Police Reports Will Not Be Available Thursday, March 22.

The Corpus Christi Police Department will have some computer maintenance conducted Thursday, March 22, 2012 which will affect the public.

No open records requests will be completed on Thursday as a result of the computer service.  Also, no copies of Police Reports will be given out on Thursday as a result of this maintenance. 

The requests for records and reports will be back to normal on Friday, March 23, 2012 during normal business hours.

The Police Department regrets any inconvenience this may cause and the upgrades are necessary to improve police service to the community.

Charlie District

Man Attempts to Take Car With Keys In The Ignition

Occurred March 20, 2012 9:46am  Robbery  5425 S. Padre Island Dr. 1203200039

Corpus Christi Police were called to Moore Plaza for a carjacking at 9:46am Tuesday. A 37-year-old man told police an unknown man tried to take his car by force behind the Target department store.

The victim explained that he is a maintenance worker and left the keys in the ignition to his green 2000 Chevy Prism while he performed his duties outside his car. The victim said an unknown Hispanic man in the middle 20’s of age with a shaved head, white t-shirt, and gray sweat pants got into the driver’s seat.

The victim said he jumped into the car and fought with the unknown man for control of the car until the unknown man left running toward Williams Drive. The victim was not injured in a manner which would require treatment by emergency medical technicians. The unknown man has not yet been located by police.