All posts by Kirk Stowers

Community Outreach

71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy Graduates

The 71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy graduated August 9, 2013
Class President, Bryan Cantu, delivers a speech about the experience in the Police Academy
Officer Taylor Ghastin stands proud to receive his badge
Class President for the 71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy, Bryan Cantu

The 71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy had a graduation ceremony at the Richardson Auditorium on August 9, 2013. The new officers will begin their new duty assignment on Monday. The new officers are:

Gonzalez, Eryca

Brown, Steven

Cabello, Robert J.

Cantu, Bryan

Cantu, Gabriel

Castro, Alexandria

Christian, Spencer

Collier, Jennifer M.

Ghastin, Taylor

Flores, Abby

Garcia, Evette

Henry, Casey

Hernandez, Alyssa

Hernandez, Raul

Jones, Jarred

Labatto, Alexander

McAlister, Katha

McCollum, Alan

Morgan, Sarah N.

Pena-Raichert, Genarose

Penick, Lillian

Rocha, Jose Luis

Salinas, Javier Rolando

Trevino, Olivia

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Crash Closes SPID at Staples for Hours Friday Morning

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The intersection of Staples St. and South Padre Island Drive (S.P.I.D.) was closed for hours Friday morning after a car hit a truck tractor and caused a fuel spill.

At 2:45 a.m., Officers were dispatched for a Major Accident involving an 18 wheeler and a passenger car at the intersection of Staples St. and S. Padre Island Drive.

A black 2007 Chrysler Sebring traveled east in the 5600 block of South Padre Island Drive. The car was in the left lane, which is designated as a “turn left only” lane, at the intersection of Staples. A red 2004 Freightliner truck-tractor was in the lane with the option to continue straight or to turn left (north) on Staples. The truck-tractor turned left to travel north on Staples and the car went straight through the intersection on S.P.I.D. and Staples. The car struck the truck-tractor and caused the fuel tank of the truck-tractor to break open and spill the diesel fuel.

The 43 year old operator of the truck-tractor got out of the truck unharmed and got away from the vehicles as a fire burned. The 21 year old operator of the car, John Williams, also got out of the way of the fire before he was injured. There were no other occupants in either of the vehicles. No person was injured in the crash. 

Corpus Christi Police arrested the 21 year old driver of the car, John Williams (12/27/1991) for Driving While Intoxicated.

The freeway was closed completely for about five minutes while the Corpus Christi Fire Department extinguished the fire and contained the fuel spill before the fuel entered the storm drain. Westbound traffic was opened to travel, but the eastbound traffic remained closed and no traffic was allowed under the overpass until about 7:30 am when the turnaround lanes and the freeway were opened. Workers continue to clean the fuel spill as of 8:00 a.m. and have various lane closures at Staples and South Padre Island Drive.

UPDATE: The intersection was reopened at 9:26 a.m.

 

Criminal Investigations Division

Corpus Christi Couple Arrested For Injury to 3 Week Old Child

Date: August 7, 2013, 14:33

Location: 3533 S. Alameda St. http://goo.gl/maps/p4oVp

Offense: Injury to a Child

Case Number: 1308070080

A 34-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested Thursday at their Corpus Christi home for causing injuries to their three-week old boy.

Corpus Christi Police received information Wednesday about a three-week old boy with substantial injuries at the hospital for medical treatment. The injuries were considered significant and caused by another person. Corpus Christi Police Detectives gathered information and determined that the parents, 34-year-old Nathan Rittgers (3/1/1979) and 28-year-old Glenna Guardado (5/8/1985) were responsible for causing the injuries to the three-week old child.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant from the Justice of The Peace in Precinct #1 for Rittgers and Guardado and both were arrested at their residence on Thursday by the Corpus Christi Police. Rittgers and Guardado were then delivered to the city detention center for the charge of Injury to a Child, a First Degree Felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

“Bravo” District Report for August 5, 2013

Date: August 4, 2013, 17:47

Location: 2600 Meadow Wood Street http://goo.gl/maps/JHCX3

Offense: Burglary of a Residence

Case Number: 1308040120

A 55-year-old man reported to the Corpus Christi Police that someone forced entry into his home without permission and took a variety of tools and fishing gear. The 55-year-old man found some of his property nearby and the suspect fled the area once Officers arrived. The suspect was not apprehended, but described as a white male about 30 years of age, 5 foot 7 inches tall, 150 pounds, with light brown hair, and wore a white sleeveless shirt, and shorts.

Anyone with any additional information about this crime or can identify the suspect should call the Corpus Christi Police Property Crimes Detectives at 886-2841.

 

Date: August 4, 2013, 22:01

Location: 3130 Mill Brook Drive http://goo.gl/maps/MgBtd

Offense: Warrant of Arrest

Case Number: 1308040139

A 30-year-old man was arrested Sunday night at 3130 Mill Brook Drive for warrants of arrest after neighbors called in a report of a suspicious person.

Corpus Christi Police went to the 3100 block of Mill Brook Drive Sunday night at 10:00pm to investigate a suspicious man in a backyard. Police knocked on the door and asked if the man belonged at the home. Police Officers identified 30-year-old Jeremy Crabtree as a fugitive with two warrants for arrest; one for failing to appear to court for drug possession and the other for interference with public duties.

Crabtree was arrested and delivered to the city detention center.

Adam District, Charlie District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate 3 Car Jackings On A Single Day

Date: August 4, 2013

Locations: 3802 Caravelle, 6702 Everhart, and 3802 U.S. Highway 77

Offense: Aggravated Robbery

Case Numbers: 1308040033, 1308040037, and 1308040050

Corpus Christi Police are looking for two Hispanic men who took several vehicles by force from three separate locations in Corpus Christi on August 4, 2013.

Corpus Christi Police received the first complaint at 3:34am on August 4 at 3802 Caravelle Parkway. A 28-year-old woman said she pulled into a parking space and was approached by a man with a white bandana over his face and displayed a handgun then demanded her car. The 28-year-old woman took the keys to her car and walked away. The man was unable to leave with the car.

Police received a second complaint at 6702 Everhart Road at 4:03am from a 33-year-old woman. The 33-year-old woman said two Hispanic men took her black 2008 Ford Focus. The woman said one man had a blue bandana over his face and the second had a red bandana over his face. The 33-year-old woman said one of the men displayed a handgun and demanded her car. The car has not been located.

The third complaint was made at 8:51am at 3802 Highway 77 by a 32-year-old woman. The 32-year-old woman said a black Ford Focus tailgated her so she pulled into a parking lot to allow it to pass. The vehicle instead blocked her and a man ran from the Focus to her car. The man had a red bandana over his face and displayed a handgun, then demanded her car. The 32-year-old woman said she got out of her silver 2013 Honda Civic and the man drove away. The Honda Civic was located at 11:13 by the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office in a barn near County Road 22 and County Road 43.

No person was injured in the episode and the suspects are still at large.

Anyone interested to research reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi should visit the website Crimereports.com for valuable information.

Anyone who can identify these suspects or has any additional information about these crimes should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2841. Anyone who would like to provide information to detectives and keep their identity secret should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest could earn the caller a cash reward.

Adam District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate Monday Morning Shooting

Date: August 5, 2013 2:42am

Location: 4600 Ramona Drive http://goo.gl/maps/c83bD

Offense: Aggravated Assault

Case Number: 1308050015

A man was taken to the hospital by ambulance with life threatening injuries from the 4600 block of Ramona Drive Monday morning.

Corpus Christi Police were called to the 4600 block of Ramona Drive at 2:42am in response to a shooting. Responding Police Officers discovered a man in the street with obvious injuries which appear to have been caused by gunfire and the man was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Corpus Christi Police Robbery/Homicide Detectives and Corpus Christi Police Forensics Lab Technicians responded to the scene to collect evidence and process information. Detectives have gathered information from several witnesses and are working on a detailed suspect description.

The suspect remains at large and the only verified description at the time of this report is that the suspect drove away in a white car with tinted windows.

Anyone interested to research reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi should search the website Crimereports.com for valuable information.

Anyone with any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police Robbery/Homicide Detectives at 886-2841. Anyone who would like to keep their information secret and provide information to detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Man Safely Surrenders After Sunday Morning Standoff

Date: August 4, 2013, 9:16am

Location: 2500 Viola Avenue http://goo.gl/maps/LL1nb

Offense: Deadly Conduct

Case Number: 1308040063

A 23-year-old man safely surrendered after a standoff with the Corpus Christi Police Sunday morning on the 2500 block of Viola Avenue.

No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire or the standoff. Corpus Christi Police responded to the 2500 block of Viola Avenue at 9:16am after a complaint that a 23-year-old man discharged a firearm several times and threatened suicide. The 23-year-old man went inside his home and said that he would not be taken by authorities alive.

The Corpus Christi Police SWAT team and the Hostage Negotiation Team arrived and established communication with the 23-year-old man. The 23-year-old man, Joshua Bocanegra (3/4/1990) safely surrendered to police at about 10:52am and was arrested for Deadly Conduct.

Adam District, Patrol Division

“Adam” District Report August 1, 2013

Date: August 1, 2013, 12:53am

Location: 4900 Up River Road http://goo.gl/maps/Dftb8

Offense: Driving While Intoxicated

Case Number: 1308010005

Corpus Christi Police were called to a business on the 4900 block of Up River Road for a disturbance. A 48-year-old man sat in a blue 2001 Ford Explorer and blocked the driveway to the business. The 48-year-old man was disoriented and had slurred speech. The man was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and taken to the hospital for a blood specimen to be collected. Steven Aguilera (3/24/1959) Arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

Date: August 1, 2013, 5:20am

Location: Leopard at North Padre Island Drive http://goo.gl/maps/sx1JN

Offense: Warrant of Arrest

Case Number: 1308010023

A 43-year-old man was arrested for two warrants for arrest after a Corpus Christi Police Officer stopped the man for riding a bicycle at night without a headlight on Leopard Street at North Padre Island Drive. The Officer stopped the man for the violation and conducted a routine warrants check which revealed the 43-year-old man had an arrest warrant for burglary to a building and for unauthorized absence from a correctional facility. James Cavett (4/18/1970) Arrested for two outstanding warrants for arrest.

Community Outreach

Animal Care Services Show Improvements

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The Corpus Christi Animal Care Services has improved the comfort and environment for animals since the department transitioned management to the Corpus Christi Police Department in 2012. The Animal Care Services has a goal to meet the needs of the citizens and reduce the stray pet population.
The Department has hired a new, highly trained, staff. New staff includes the shelter veterinarian, Dr. Melissa Draper, and new Program Manager, Heather Hedrick.
The workers have acquired necessary equipment to be more effective. There are new air conditioner shells for the safety of impounded animals. Managers intend to equip the vehicles with computers to allow officers access to information in order to provide more efficient response to calls for service.
A new targeted spay and neuter program has been implemented to reduce the stray animal population. People Assisting Animal Control volunteers join community sponsors to increase the adoption rate of the facility. Relationships are growing with other community animal welfare organizations who rescue animals from the Corpus Christi Animal Care Services such as the Gulf Coast Humane Society, Heartbeats, and The Cattery.
The Corpus Christi Animal Care Services have changed the appearance of the vehicles and to the uniforms the Officers wear. This effort is to make the vehicles and workers more identifiable to the public and to promote responsible pet ownership requirements in the community. The vehicles now include the city of Corpus Christi seal and the Animal Care Services logo. Information is displayed on the vehicle that promotes responsible pet ownership, having pets spayed or neutered, vaccinate all pets, keep current registration with the city, encourage adoption and foster opportunities, and to keep dogs restrained.

Delta District, Patrol Division

“Delta” District Report July 29, 2013

Date: July 29, 2013, 15:20

Location: 3300 Port Ave http://goo.gl/maps/JjOZW

Offense: Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 2-A

Case Number: 1307290125 & Crash #C1305604

A 53-year-old man drove a white 2011 Nissan Sentra when he was involved in a vehicle crash in which he struck two parked cars in an auto dealership. The Sentra drove north on Port Avenue, made an unsafe change from a direct course to cross to the left side of the road and then strike the curb, a fence, two parked cars, and broke a utility pole. The 53-year-old man said he reached to retrieve a cigarette from the floorboard when he was in the crash. The investigating officer found the cigarette which was not tobacco, but a synthetic substance.

The 53-year-old man went to the hospital for treatment and the cigarette was sent for testing.

 

Date: July 29, 2013, 13:32

Location: 600 14th Street http://goo.gl/maps/auyVl

Offense: Burglary to a Residence

Offense Number: 1307290083

A 38-year-old woman told Corpus Christi Police someone entered her home and took her property. Entry to the house appeared to have been made by removing a window unit air conditioner.

Search the website Crimereports.com to research all reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi.