All posts by Kirk Stowers

Community Outreach

Police Ceremony Celebrates 9 Promoted To Senior Officer

Newly promoted Senior Officers: Armando Cruz; Lonnie Humitz; Adam Thurman; Alberto Salinas; David Saldana; Curtis Volling; Jose Flores; Armando Vasquez; and Corey Casey.

Nine Corpus Christi Police Officers were promoted to the rank of Senior Officer Thursday, September 06, 2012 in a ceremony with Chief of Police Floyd Simpson at the Corpus Christi Police Headquarters.

The officers successfully completed a proficiency exam on August 14, 2012. The test covered material from publications such as the Corpus Christi Police General Rules Manual, the Texas Criminal and Traffic Laws Manual, The Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Family Code, Texas Transportation Code, and the text-book Leadership, Ethics, and Policing for the 21st Century by P.J. Ortmeier and Edwin Meese.

The officers must have attained 60 months of service as a commissioned officer in the Corpus Christi Police Department to be eligible to take the exam. Other requirements to take the exam are that they possess an Intermediate Peace Officer license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education or at least have 60 hours college credit from an accredited college or university.

The Senior Officer exam was graded as an individual pass or fail examination with a minimum score of 70% required to pass the exam.

The Corpus Christi Police Department celebrates the newly promoted Senior Officers: Armando Cruz; Lonnie Humitz; Adam Thurman; Alberto Salinas; David Saldana; Curtis Volling; Jose Flores; Armando Vasquez; and Corey Casey.

Alberto Salinas pins rank onto Senior Officer Adam Thurman
Assistant Chief Mike Markle congratulates Senior Officer Lonnie Humitz

 

 

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

Two Killed In Head On Crash On Saratoga Blvd.

Occurred Thursday, September 06, 2012, 2:02am, 5300 Saratoga, Vehicle crash with fatal injuries C1206778

                A 57-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman did not survive a head on vehicle crash on the 5300 block of Saratoga near Montecita Drive at 2:00am Thursday morning.

A 20-year-old man and a 40-year-old man witnessed the crash and told police a white 1998 Ford sport utility vehicle operated by the 25-year-old woman travelled west at a high rate of speed in the eastbound lanes of Saratoga Boulevard. The sport utility vehicle collided head on into a blue Dodge Dakota operated by the 57-year-old man who traveled east in the eastbound lanes.

There were no other occupants in either vehicle. The 5300 block of Saratoga Boulevard is a divided roadway with a concrete center median that separates the eastbound and the westbound traffic. The 57-year-old man died at the scene and the 25-year-old woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but later died.

Corpus Christi Police Traffic Crash Investigators continue to investigate to determine the cause of the crash.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Good ‘Ol Fashion Police Work Stops Thief

Occurred Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 11:10am, 14050 South Padre Island Drive, Credit Card Abuse, 1209050039

                A 49-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for using stolen credit cards in Flour Bluff.

A 34-year-old man told Corpus Christi Police that his wallet was stolen from inside his truck while parked and unattended on the naval base yesterday. The 34-year-old man said his credit card was used at a hotel on Padre Island. Corpus Christi Police Officer Dean Mays went to the hotel, but the person that used the card was no longer there.

Senior Officer Mays then investigated further and discovered the card was used at several other locations in Flour Bluff including the Stripes store, Whataburger, Auto Zone, and other stores. Senior Officer Mays went to the several stores and viewed the store video records and obtained images of the suspect and the vehicle the suspect used to drive to the stores.

Senior Officer Mays broadcast the suspect vehicle description, a red Ford Explorer with a tire strapped on top, and Lieutenant Tom Nichols found the vehicle at Waldron and South Padre Island Drive. Lieutenant Nichols recognized the operator of the vehicle as 49-year-old Michael Wright (6/20/1963) and knew Wright did not have a valid driver’s license. Lieutenant Nichols initiated a traffic stop and investigated the claim of credit card abuse. Wright was arrested after a short investigation for Driving While License Suspended, No Insurance, and for the credit card abuse.

Community Outreach

Police Search For Missing Disabled Man

David Mark Garcia
Missing Disabled Person

Corpus Christi Police would like help from the public to find a missing disabled person from Harlingen, 52-year-old David Mark Garcia. He was last seen in Corpus Christi the weekend of August 25, 2012 at the Exxon Station at Morgan and Crosstown. Garcia has medical problems and stumbles while he walks. Garcia may hang around the bus station.

If anyone sees David Mark Garcia, call Corpus Christi Police at 886-2600. Garcia’s family are worried and would like to find him soon.

 

Delta District, Patrol Division

Restaurant Employees Stop Thief On Downtown Crime Spree

Occurred Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 14:05, 309 Interstate Highway 37, Robbery and Theft 1209040083, 1209040104

                An 18 year old woman was arrested for stealing at the Burger King on IH 37 at Chaparral Tuesday afternoon after employees caught the woman and detained her for police.

The 55-year-old manager of the Burger King found 18-year-old Deserae Garza (9/26/1993) in the back of the kitchen at 2:00pm. Garza was not an employee and the store manager quickly discovered that Garza had stolen money from a prepared register drawer in the store office.

The manager held Garza in place until Corpus Christi Police Arrived. It was discovered that Garza had stolen valuables from customer’s purses hanging on chairs in the restaurant. The valuables were returned to the customers.

Corpus Christi Police also discovered that Garza had stolen cash, an iphone, and an ipad from the place in which she applied for employment earlier in the day on the 400 block of Mann Street.

Garza was arrested for robbery, two thefts, and possession of dangerous drugs and then delivered to the city detention center.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Ambulance Takes Man To Hospital After Fight On 4200 Block Of Cambridge

Occurred Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 19:20, Cambridge Drive at Horne Road, Aggravated Assault 1209040164

A 52-year-old man was taken to the hospital by ambulance with serious head trauma after he started a fight with a 25-year-old man near the area of Cambridge Drive and Horne Road.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a fight in the street in which they found a 52-year-old man laid face up in the road unresponsive with a head injury. The 52-year-old man was immediately taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Investigators believe the man’s head struck the pavement which caused significant trauma.

Corpus Christi Police detained a 25-year-old man identified as the person responsible for causing the head injury to the 52-year-old man. Detectives and Forensics Lab Technicians responded to the scene to interview witnesses and collect evidence.

Witnesses pointed to the 52-year-old man as the aggressor in this event and that alcohol consumption may have contributed to the aggression.

No arrests were made and the detectives continue to investigate the event to determine appropriate criminal charges.

Anyone interested to research reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi should search Crimereports.com for useful information. Anyone with any additional information about this event should call Corpus Christi Police or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip at www.888TIPS.com.

Community Outreach

Nueces County Top 10 Most Wanted For September 2012

Benjamin Gomez has been captured. Please help locate the nine other fugitives in our community.

Lisa Cabrera- Motion to revoke probation for driving while intoxicated

Guadalupe Bazaldua- Burglary of a habitation

Casandra Dunn- Motion to revoke probation for possession of a controlled substance

Roland Rios- Contempt of Child Support

David Theodore- Possession of a controlled substance

Robert Rader- Credit card abuse

Luis Suarez- Endangering a child

Louis Papakostas- Evading arrest with a vehicle

Terrell Fontenot- Assault

If you know where we can locate any of these individuals call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS, or log on at www.888tips.com. We want your information, not your name. The information you provide could earn you a cash reward.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Corpus Christi Police Arrest 22 For Driving While Intoxicated Over Labor Day Weekend

Occurred Saturday, September 1, 2012, 22:47, Nile Drive at S.P.I.D. Driving While Intoxicated with vehicle crash 1209010171 and C1206671

The Corpus Christi Police Department made 22 arrests for driving while intoxicated over the Labor Day Weekend. One such arrest was after a vehicle crash in which the operator of a maroon 2008 Dodge Charger 4 door car travelled the wrong way on the access road of the freeway on South Padre Island Drive at Nile Drive.

The Corpus Christi Police responded to a call for a major vehicle crash in which the Dodge Charger t-boned a 2002 Chevy C/K 1500 pickup truck on the access road at 10:45pm. The operator of the Charger, 20-year-old Jose Villalobos (9/20/1991), told investigating officers he had come from the beach and did not know how he came to travel west in the eastbound lanes of the access road in front of the Whataburger.

Villalobos performed the standardized field sobriety tests. Corpus Christi Police gathered evidence and information, and then concluded that Villalobos was intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway.

Villalobos was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation, and delivered to the city detention center.

A passenger in the truck that was struck by Villalobos complained of a minor injury. There were no other complaints of injury in the crash.

Corpus Christi Police made 662 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated this year to August 28 and collected blood or breath specimens from all but 5 suspects. The average blood alcohol concentration from the suspect’s is .18 which is over twice the legal limit of .08.

The Corpus Christi Police Department urges everyone to think before they drink and have a sober driver.

Delta District, Patrol Division

Police Seek Burglar In Parks Along Ocean Drive And Ennis Joslin Road

Occurred Monday, September 3, 2012, 9:30am, 2900 Ocean Drive, Burglary from a motor vehicle, 1209030043

Corpus Christi Police would like help from the public to locate the individual responsible for several burglaries to vehicles along Ocean Drive and Ennis Joslin Road in the past few weeks.

One such burglary happened Monday, September 3, 2012 at Oleander Park. A man parked his gray 2010 Nissan Altima at Oleander Park then went for a walk. The man returned and discovered his right front passenger window broken to his car and items missing from inside the car.

The investigating Police Officer found a witness to the burglary and the witness had taken a picture of the vehicle the suspect used to leave the area. The suspect’s vehicle is a gray 2004 Dodge Ram pickup. Police investigators have the license plate and continue to investigate. The burglar is described as a white man who wore a blue t-shirt and blue jeans.

This truck matches the description provided to Corpus Christi Police in other reports of auto burglaries on Ocean Drive and at Hans Suter Park.

Anyone with information that can locate this vehicle or the person responsible for the thefts should call the Corpus Christi Police Auto Theft Task Force at 886-2862. The Auto Theft Task Force urges everyone not to leave valuables in an unattended vehicle.

Anyone interested to research reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi should visit Crimereports.com for useful information. Anyone with information about a crime may provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip at www.888TIPS.com.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

15 Year Old Boy Displays Pistol In Park On Labor Day

Occurred Monday, September 3, 2012, 15:56, 6002 Parkview Drive, Aggravated Assault, 1209030105

A 15-year-old boy was apprehended after he displayed a pistol at Parkview Park Monday afternoon.

Corpus Christi Police were called to Parkview Park Monday afternoon at 3:56pm for a large fight. The dispatcher updated the information to the officers that a Hispanic male with curly hair and a white tank top shirt displayed a gun.

Officers arrived as many vehicles left the park. A group of 16 year olds told police that they played basketball when a Jeep Cherokee showed up and the occupants yelled and showed hand gestures. A 15-year-old occupant of the Jeep then got into a fist fight with one of those that played basketball until the 15-year-old disengaged the fight to return to the Jeep.

The 15-year-old boy then displayed a handgun at the opponents in the fight. The 15-year-old boy then left the area before police arrived.

Corpus Christi Police provided the description of the 15-year-old and the vehicle which was located by other police officers that searched the nearby neighborhoods. The handgun was located, which officers discovered was a pellet gun.

The 15-year-old was taken into custody and delivered to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center because the pellet gun was presented as a real firearm with the intent to cause alarm and lead the others to reasonably believe the gun was a deadly weapon.