All posts by Kirk Stowers

Bravo District, Traffic Safety Division

Road Work To Affect Wooldridge Road Traffic

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents beginning on Friday, December 21, 2012 through January 7, 2012, weather permitting; city contractors will shifted the Wooldridge traffic onto the eastbound lanes between Rodd Field Road and Quebec Drive.  Traffic on this section of Wooldridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction.  In addition, Quebec Drive will be closed at the Wooldridge intersection and traffic detoured onto Bevo Drive.

Traffic control devices will guide motorists through the construction site.  While the work is underway, motorists should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes to avoid the area if possible.  Motorists are also advised to observe all construction warning signs and barricades for their safety and that of construction crews.  Access to local driveways will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.

For more information, please contact Traffic Engineering at 826-3547.

Adam District, Patrol Division

Police Arrest Hit & Run Driver on IH 37 By Following Clues

Occurred Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 20:45, 14900 Trinity River Drive, Driving While Intoxicated, 1212190137

                A 21-year-old man was arrested for driving while intoxicated and possession of synthetic marijuana Wednesday night after he caused a vehicle crash on the 13000 block of Interstate Highway 37.

A red 2009 Nissan Versa was driven by a 28-year-old woman on the entrance ramp to the 13900 block of Interstate Highway 37 at about 8:15 Wednesday night. The Versa was struck from behind by a silver 2004 Saturn Vue operated by 21-year-old Eric Baugher (12/27/1990). The Saturn then left without providing any information.

The 28-year-old woman and her 40-year-old woman passenger were treated by an ambulance crew for minor injuries. Corpus Christi Police investigated the crash and discovered the front bumper and license plate for the Saturn which left the scene.

Corpus Christi Police tracked the vehicle and arrested Baugher for driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. Baugher was also arrested for possession of a substance in penalty group 2-A of the Health and Safety Code; a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.

Baugher was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation and then he was delivered to the city detention center. The Nissan Versa was towed due to damage. The Saturn was taken to the city impound lot.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Police Take Juvenile Into Custody Near Midnight For $12,000 of Graffiti on Staples Street

Occurred Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 23:55 5000 Staples Street, Graffiti arrest, 1212200004

                A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday night for an estimated $12,000 worth of damage to buildings in the area of the 5000 block of Staples Street.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers were called to the area of the 5000 block of Staples at 11:55pm to investigate a suspicious person complaint. One patrol officer saw the man described by the caller near the intersection of Staples and South Padre Island Drive. The officer exited his patrol car to meet the person; but, the man ran from the officer. The officer chased the man around the Sunrise Mall and into a neighborhood across McArdle Road.

The man ran to the 1100 block of Lum Avenue when officers caught the man. The man fought with police officers and was exposed to pepper spray until the officer could apply handcuffs. The man was discovered to be 16 years old.

The officer discovered graffiti implements with the 16-year-old boy. Other police officers searched the area and found fresh graffiti on a fence on the 1600 block of Airline, on a vacant restaurant at Williams and Staples, on a business and a trailer of the business on the 5700 block of S.P.I.D., and on an overpass. The estimated value of the damage is $12,000.

The 16-year-old boy was delivered to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center for Graffiti (state jail felony), Evading Arrest (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of Graffiti Implements (Class C misdemeanor), Resisting Arrest (Class A misdemeanor), and for violation of the night curfew (Class C misdemeanor).

Police remind everyone that there is a Corpus Christi city ordinance (CC33-40) that prohibits any person less than 17 years of age from a public place between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. unless with supervision by a guardian.

Traffic Safety Division

South Side Traffic Affected By Road Work

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents beginning on Thursday, December 20 and Friday, December 21, 2012; city contractors will close the intersection of Staples Street and Cain Drive, and Staples Street and Bonner Drive.  In addition, traffic will be closed to through traffic at the intersections of Burton Lane at Cain and Bonner.

Only one intersection will be closed at any one time.

Traffic control devices will guide motorists through the construction site.  While the work is underway, motorists should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes to avoid the area if possible.  Motorists are also advised to observe all construction warning signs and barricades for their safety and that of construction crews.   Access to local driveways will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.

For more information, please contact Traffic Engineering at 826-3547.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Police Investigate Suspicious Death on 7th Street

Corpus Christi Police closed off the 1500 block of 7th Street while a suspicious death was investigated
Corpus Christi Police closed off the 1500 block of 7th Street while a suspicious death was investigated

Occurred Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 7:16am, 1529 Seventh Street, 1212190013

The Corpus Christi Police Department are investigating a suspicious death on the 1500 block of Seventh Street that was discovered by the Corpus Christi Fire Department on Wednesday morning.

Corpus Christi Fire Fighters responded to a structure fire at 1529 Seventh Street at 7:16 in the morning on December 19, 2012. Corpus Christi Police went to the area of the 1500 block of Seventh to provide traffic direction on the public rights of way.

The Fire Fighters discovered a person who was not alive and notified the Police Department. Corpus Christi Police Detectives and Arson Investigators arrived to evaluate the conditions.

Police Detectives state the death is suspicious and urge anyone with information about this event to call Corpus Christi Police Detectives at 886-2841. Information may be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at http://www.888TIPS.com.

Community Outreach

Corpus Christi Police Host “Tweet Along” Friday, December 21

Corpus Christi Police Officer Kirk Stowers will conduct the "Tweet Along" December 21, 2012 starting at 2pm.
Corpus Christi Police Officer Kirk Stowers will conduct the “Tweet Along” December 21, 2012 starting at 2pm.

Friday, December 21, 2012, from 2:00pm until 8:00pm, The Corpus Christi Police Department will host a “Tweet Along” to follow the Holiday Initiative. Officer Kirk Stowers will cruise in a patrol car as the radio call sign “Site 6” and send out information on the social media outlet, Twitter, so that the public may observe police work from the comfort of home.

The holiday Initiative is a program in which extra officers patrol the densely populated shopping areas to reduce crime. The extra officers do not patrol a beat to answer call for service from the public, but instead focus police resources to cooperate with security staff of the shopping centers and direct traffic to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime, and to enhance public safety.

The activity will be posted on the social media of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Detailed information will be available with the messages on the Corpus Christi Police Blotter which can be accessed by selecting the links that will be embedded in the twitter messages.

Follow the messages, links and photos in real-time as Officer Stowers works the areas full of Holiday shoppers. There is no fee to participate. To become involved in the “Tweet Along,” follow @CorpusChristiPD on Twitter. Be sure to “Like” the City of Corpus Christi Police Department on Facebook.

 

Traffic Safety Division

Road Work Will Affect Traffic on Staples Street

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents beginning today; December 18, 2012, city contractors will shift traffic onto the northbound Staples Street lanes and reduce traffic to one lane in each direction between Curtis Clark Drive and Holly Road.

Traffic control devices will guide motorists through the construction site.  While the work is underway, motorists should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes to avoid the area if possible.  Motorists are also advised to observe all construction warning signs and barricades for their safety and that of construction crews.   Access to local driveways will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.

For more information, please contact Traffic Engineering at 826-3547.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Police Seek To Identify Two Men Responsible For Aggravated Assault on Ayers

     Suspect2

Occurred Sunday, December 9, 2012, 22:22 3206 Ayers Street, Aggravated Assault, 1212090118

                A 24-year-old man was stabbed Sunday night and Police would like help from the public to identify and locate those responsible for the crime.

A 24-year-old man went to his vehicle at 10:20pm in the parking lot of El Rincon located at 3206 Ayers Street and was hit from behind when he went to open the truck door. The 24-year-old man said he turned around and saw a Hispanic man who wore a #88 Dallas Cowboys jersey. The 24-year-old man said he realized he was stabbed and fell to the ground. Once on the ground, several other men hit the 24-year-old man.

The men responsible for the assault then left the area last seen travelling east on Blevins Street.

Corpus Christi Police Detectives now want help from the public to identify and locate those responsible for the assault. Detectives have video images of two of the men responsible for this assault.

The man who used the knife and originally contacted the 24-year-old victim is described as a Hispanic man who stands about 5 foot 7 inches tall, weighs about 150 pounds, has brown hair, brown eyes, and has tattoos on his body and arms and wore a Dallas Cowboys #88 blue jersey with Bryant written on the back.

A second man involved in the assault who was seen playing several games of pool with the man who used the knife is described as a black man who is about 6 feet tall, and wore a blue Houston Texans #56 jersey with Cushing written on the back.

Anyone with any additional information about this crime or who can identify these individuals should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at http://www.888TIPS.com.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Woman Falls Asleep While Driving and Rolls Vehicle On Freeway

2900 State Highway 358 from Google Street View
2900 State Highway 358 from Google Street View

Occurred Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 5:09am, 2833 South Padre Island Drive, Major vehicle crash, C1209574

A 32-year-old woman flipped her vehicle in front of the Corpus Christi Trade Center Tuesday at 5:00 in the morning.

Corpus Christi Police found the 32-year-old woman did not have major injuries after her gold 1996 Saturn 4 door sedan drifted off the freeway. No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash and investigating patrol officers did not discover any indication that alcohol was a contributing factor.

The 32-year-old woman was fatigued and had fallen asleep while driving on the 2900 block of State Highway 358.

The car was towed due to damage and the 32-year-old woman was issued a traffic citation for making an unsafe change from a direct course and for driving without a license.

Corpus Christi Police investigated a crash at Kostoryz and Saratoga on December 14 in which the operator of the vehicle fell asleep while driving. Be mindful of driving times and know the warning signs of a fatigued condition. Constant yawning, inability to keep eyes focussed, or if one can’t remember the last few moments of driving are all indicators that a driver is fatigued. It is safer to take a break than to continue to operate a vehicle.

Adam District, Patrol Division

Woman Injures Police Officer And Flees From Traffic Stop

Occurred Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 00:36, Buddy Lawrence Dr. at Nandina Drive, Evading Arrest, 1212180003

Two women were arrested and a Corpus Christi Police Officer was injured after a traffic stop Tuesday morning near the intersection of Buddy Lawrence and Nandina Drive.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officer V. Ortiz observed a gold 2000 Mazda 4 door sedan fail to stop at a stop sign and not signal the turn at Mimosa and Nandina Tuesday morning at 12:36am. Officer Ortiz conducted a traffic stop and got the necessary documents required by the 31-year-old operator of the vehicle. The 31-year-old man was removed from the car and a 19-year-old passenger, Shayna Snow (3/5/1993), climbed to the driver’s seat and fled.

The vehicle ran over Officer Ortiz’s right foot when Snow fled and the 31-year-old man was left in place as Officer Ortiz got into his patrol car and followed the gold Mazda.

The Mazda fled on the Interstate Highway 37 to the Crosstown Expressway intersection and entered the grass embankment. While the vehicle was still in motion, Snow got out of the car and ran in a different direction.

The Mazda stopped in the grass and the 18-year-old passenger, Jorianna Galindo (7/31/1994), climbed to the driver’s seat and attempted to flee. Officer Ortiz pulled Galindo from the vehicle and detained her.

Other patrol officers apprehended Snow after a chase on foot. Snow was arrested for possession of marijuana, evading arrest in a vehicle, evading arrest on foot, two theft warrants for her arrest and one warrant for her arrest for an assault.

Galindo was arrested for possession of marijuana. The Mazda was impounded and delivered to the city impound lot.

Other officers returned to the original place of the traffic stop and found the 31-year-old man who was the original driver of the Mazda. The 31-year-old man was issued traffic citations for the stop sign and signal violations, and then given a ride by police officers to his destination.

Officer Ortiz received treatment for an injury to his foot and Snow was additionally charged with assault on a peace officer, a 1st degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.