Date: Thursday, February 6, 2014 9:50pm
Location: 5420 McArdle Road
Offense: Burglary to Vehicle (PC 30.04) A Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1402060055

Corpus Christi Auto Burglary Detectives need your help in identifying and locating those responsible for breaking into a vehicle on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 9:50pm. Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to Boots and Britches at 5420 McArdle Road in reference to a box trailer that two unknown suspects tried to break into. The Suspects pulled up to the back of the business and removed the fence. The video shows the suspects making several attempts to gain entry into the trailer before they leave. The video can be viewed on YouTube at http://youtu.be/dY9uUdzwfFo.

Anyone who can identify these individuals, or has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Auto Burglary Detectives at (361) 886-2874. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which leads to an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Date: Monday April 14, 2014, 3:00pm
Location: 4622 Everhart
Offense: Aggravated Robbery (P.C. 29.03) 1st Degree Felony
Case number: 1404140101

Corpus Christi Police Officers are investigating a bank robbery at the IBC Bank located at 4622 Everhart Road. The male suspect walked to the counter, told the teller he had a weapon and demanded money. The male suspect took the undetermined amount of money and left. He was last seen entering a possible blue Chevy Trail Blazer and heading South on Everhart Road.

The male suspect was approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, 175-200 pounds, wearing a camouflage jacket with a hoodie  and a white mask.

Anyone who has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Robbery Detectives at (361) 886-2841. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which leads to an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Date: Saturday April 12, 2014, 10:08am
Location: 4954 S. Staples
Offense: Agg. Robbery (P.C. 29.03) 1st Degree Felony
Case number: 1404120059

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to Jared Jewelers in reference to a robbery. Witnesses told the officers that the suspect asked to look at some jewelery. When the employees showed the suspect the necklace, he took it and and told the employees that he had a weapon. He left the scene, but not before employees were able to get his license plate. The license plate was checked and a BOLO was put out over the radio. Corpus Christi Police officers found the vehicle heading North on I.H. 37. Officers waited for back up and conducted a felony stop south of Mathis. The suspect (Gamaliel Altamirano-Cancino DOB 10-20-1992) was arrested for aggravated robbery and booked into the City Detention Center. Officers recovered the property that was stolen.

Date: Saturday April 12, 2014, 10:23am
Location: 3757 S. Staples
Offense: Agg. Robbery (P.C. 29.03) 1st Degree Felony
Case number: 1404120063

While Corpus Christi Police Officers were hard at work with the robbery at Jared Jewelers, a female suspect walked into the Value Bank and went up to a teller. The suspect passed a threatening note to the teller demanding money. The teller gave the female suspect an undetermined amount of money. The female suspect then exited the bank, last seen heading North on S. Staples. The female suspect is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 130 pounds, dark hair with colored streaks, wearing dark shirt and pants and a tan jacket. Corpus Christi Robbery Detectives are actively working the case.

Anyone who has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Robbery Detectives at (361) 886-2841. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which leads to an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014 6:30pm
Location: 5858 SPID
Offense: Burglary to Vehicle (PC 30.04) A Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1402270102

Corpus Christi Auto Burglary Detectives need your help in identifying and locating those responsible for breaking into a vehicle on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 6:30pm. The victim advised that her vehicle had been broken into and her purse was stolen. Corpus Christi Police Detectives obtained the surveillance video and observed the suspect vehicle pull into the parking lot and park next to the victims vehicle. The suspect then pulled out of the parking spot and backed into it again. You can see movement around the truck and then the truck leave the parking lot. The suspect vehicle appears to be a older Chevy or GMC single cab pickup truck. The video can be viewed on YouTube at http://youtu.be/cgjzvuAIpEk.

Anyone who can identify this vehicle, or has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Auto Burglary Detectives at (361) 886-2874. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which leads to an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 11:59am
Location: 9360 Leopard Street
Offense: Theft (Penal Code Section 31.03) Class A Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1402040053

Corpus Christi Property Crime Detectives would like help from the public to identify and locate a woman who stole a cell phone on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 11:59am. The victim told the responding officer that she went into the store and left her phone on the counter while making a purchase. The victim went back to the store after she realized that she left her phone only to discover it was gone.

The offender described as a white female, 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 170 pounds with blonde hair. She was behind the victim in line as she made her purchase. She saw the victim leave her phone and also left the store only to return a short time later and take the phone. The video can be viewed on Youtube at http://youtu.be/GAteAseX4lY.

Anyone who can identify this woman, or has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Property Crimes Detectives at (361) 886-2841. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which leads to an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

“Charlie” District

Date: Thursday April 10, 2014, 1:33am
Location: 4300 Bratton Road
Offense: DWI (P.C. 49.04) B MIS, Municipal Court Warrant
Case Number: 1404100012

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a single vehicle accident which had struck a tree in the area of 4300 Bratton Road. When officers arrived they made contact with the suspect (Miguel Suarez Jr. DOB 6-28-1973). Suarez was given the Standardized Field Sobriety Test, he was arrested for DWI. Suarez was transported to a local hospital for a blood draw and to be medically cleared for the accident. Suarez was also found to have a active municipal court warrant. Suarez was transported to the City Detention Center and booked for DWI and the MC warrant.

“Delta” District

Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 8:08pm
Location: 5400 Leopard Street
Offense: Aggravated Assault (P.C. 22.02) 2nd Degree Felony
Case Number: 1404090148

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to the area of 5400 Leopard St. for a fight. When officers arrived they were told by bystanders that the 38 year old victim was not breathing and needed medical attention. A bystander was performing CPR on the victim as CCFD medics arrived. The medics continued CPR and were able to detect a pulse. The victim was transported to Spohn Memorial for further treatment.

Witnesses advised that the victim was sitting in a chair, when the suspect came up behind the victim and started hitting him as hard as he could. The suspect then fled the scene. The last update on the victim was that he is in serious condition.

At approximately 10:30pm officers were dispatched to the main police station at 321 John Sartain. It was  in reference to the suspect from the assault turning himself in. The suspect, Jerel Bradley DOB 6-19-1973, was arrested and transported to the City Detention Center.

On February 9^th at approximately 9:52 am, Corpus Christi Police Officers and Corpus Christi Fire Department Medics responded to a residence on the 500 block of 18^th Street to investigate a report of a dog bite with injuries.  Upon arriving, Officers and Medics discovered a 22 year old man with multiple bite injuries to the arms and legs.  The victim told Officers that he had been attacked by a pack of three to five dogs, and pointed out a residence where the dogs had returned to following the vicious attack. The victim was taken by private vehicle to Spohn Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.  A fireman at the scene told police officers that the dogs were loose when the medics arrived and pointed out a residence where two of the dogs had been taken.  Corpus Christi Animal Control Officers responded to MMC and contacted the victim, who told ACOs that he had been walking down the street when he was attacked by a pack of three to five dogs and at least two came from the same residence.  ACOs photographed the man’s injuries and then went to the scene of the attack where they contacted a woman.  The woman, who was in possession of one of two dogs that attacked the man, initially denied the dog belonged to her, denied living at the address, claimed the dog had been restrained the whole time, and claimed that the other dogs were strays.  A police officer at the scene told ACOs that she had seen the dog loose when she arrived on scene and a neighbor told officers that the second dog had been driven away from the home by another woman.   Officers impounded that dog, a female pit-bull mix, at the scene and transported it to Animal Shelter to be held for the mandatory ten day quarantine period.   ACOs checked the address and discovered there had been nine previous complaints of aggressive dog calls, including complaints from City Code Enforcement Officers and US Postal Carriers.  Most calls indicated that the dog owners allowed their dogs to run loose and that they were becoming progressively more aggressive toward citizens living in the neighborhood.  ACOs were able to identify the person who took the second dog, also a pit-bull mix, from the scene, contacted her and convinced her to bring the dog to Animal Control for the ten day quarantine.  That woman told officers that the dog belonged to her son, who was in jail.  The dog had no registration tag, no microchip, or tattoo to properly identify the owner.

Animal Control Officers contacted the resident of the address to attempt to impound the outstanding two dogs. The woman agreed to surrender the dog, but failed to follow through on her agreement.  The remaining two dogs from the vicious attack were never found.

Animal Control Officers checked records and could not find any record of any animal being registered to anyone at the address where the dogs lived.  Officers further checked and could not find any registration under any of the names given by any of the women.

Both dogs were kept in quarantine at Animal Care Services.  During this time period, both dogs were evaluated by Shelter Vet Dr. M. Draper, who determined both dogs were highly aggressive and recommended they be deemed as Dangerous Dogs under the Texas Health and Safety Code.  On February 19^th at 10:11 am the male dog was euthanized by Animal Care Services staff.  This was past the 240 hour state required quarantine period.

On February 20^th, the female pit-bull, was released to the woman who admitted ownership at the beginning.  Animal Care Services Staff failed to notify the alleged owner of male pit-bull mix that the dog was going to be euthanized and offer her one last opportunity to prove ownership.  The ACO who euthanized the dog mistakenly believed that the dog had been “surrendered” by the owner.

Animal Care Services admits that this entire incident could have been handled better and offers our apologies.  An internal investigation is underway to determine what possible departmental policy was violated and create a procedure to prevent this from happening again.

On her 20^th year of service, Cmdr. Adele “Heidi” Frese is saying goodbye to the Corpus Christi Police Department. She has been selected as the chief of police for Greenfield, in Monterey County, California.  Cmdr. Frese held a variety of assignments with the department including patrolling the north and west side of the city, implementing the first Campus Crime Stoppers programs at each of the five school districts and in recent years served as the commanding officer of patrol, support services, and narcotics and vice investigations. Cmdr. Frese is probably known best for her community policing philosophy, support of youth programs, and belief that community engagement offers the best solutions for street crime and neighborhood problem solving. She is the first woman officer to attain the rank of commander and will be the first woman police chief at her next department.

We wish Cmdr. Frese all the best on her next chapter in law enforcement.

From the Greenfield, CA city website Press Release:

Commander Fresé brings extensive experience and training as the City’s new Police Chief.  She holds a Master of Science in Public Safety from Capella University Minneapolis, MN; a Master of Arts from Boston University’s Senior Management Institute for Police, Police Executive Research Forum; is a Certified Public Manager from Texas A & M University; holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, with a specialization in Law Enforcement; Minor in Sociology at California State University, Hayward.  Specialized certification and training include Comparative Criminal Justice and Policing Management and Leadership Program, International Police; Programs at the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT); Master  Peace Officer, TCLEOSE; Lemit’s Leadership Inventory for Female Executives (LIFE); Dale Carnegie’s Leadership Training; Certified Public Manager (CPM); Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Certification; Crime Prevention Inspector Certification and Instructor Certification, TCLEOSE.

Commander Fresé has been with the City of Corpus Christi Police Department since 1994 and has extensive law enforcement experience in various areas in public safety. Early in her career, as a Senior Patrol Officer she directed patrol officers, crime prevention officers, the Campus Crime Stoppers program and undercover operators. She was also responsible for the successful implementation  of first Crime Stoppers program at all 5 Corpus Christi school districts and garnered support by collaborating with school superintendents, principals staff, and media to create what became an award winning program in her community.

As a night Patrol Lieutenant, Commander Fresé managed patrol shifts ranging from 10 to 20 officers and was responsible for managing patrol, walking a beat, bicycle, and prisoner transporters in the Downtown Area Command.  As a result of her management, officers under her command were responsible for 67% of all DUI arrests throughout the City in one year.  As a Special Operations Lieutenant, Commander Fresé directed and worked with community groups to develop strategies to combat crime, managed and created effective and efficient responses to crime for deployment of Directed Patrols, an Enduro Unit, and Crime Prevention Specialists.  She was also responsible for the design and execution of numerous neighborhood surveys and problem-solving models to address crime and improve quality of life.

As a Support Services Division Manager, Commander Fresé was responsible for managing department’s Communication Dispatch Center with an $8.1 million budget with a staff of 120 employees whose primary objective was to provide excellent dispatch and communications for all City Police, Sheriff Deputies, Constables, City and Volunteer Fire Departments and EMS serving a population of over 325,000. During her time managing this unit, she conducted research to improve the management and delivery of services by this Dispatch Center to increase efficiency, reduce overtime  expense, and improve morale, training, and retention of employees. Commander  Fresé  was  responsible for the delivery of a high volume and wide range of support services to the community, the implementation of the Department’s Volunteers in Policing, publishing a volunteer and supervisor guidebook and establishing a Wellness and Fitness program for all sworn and non-sworn employees.

As the Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Commander, she was responsible for redirecting the Division’s effort to target street conspiracy-level drug activity resulting in a significant increase in arrests. Her accomplishments include pursuing narcotics leads with gang members involved in the distribution of drugs resulting in a 50% increase in drug related arrests of known gang members in a 10 month period;  directing the safe execution of 111 drug warrants in a 10 month period; serving on and contributing to the Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)Board.   During her tenure, she carried out collateral duties as a Hurricane Logistics Chief, Wellness Committee Chair, Peer Support Commander, Awards Committee Chair and Awards Event Coordinator for her Department. As a result of her efforts, she strengthened relationships with public safety partners, effectively networking with County Sheriff, U.S. Border Patrol, DPS, DEA, and Federal Probation.

As a Patrol Division Commanding Officer, Ms. Fresé managed a $35 million dollar budget while providing leadership and direction to seven captains whose objective was to maintain order through the effective deployment of 270 sworn Police Officers and support personnel throughout the City of Corpus Christi. As Commander, she exercised  functional supervision over officers engaged in patrol, directed patrol, traffic enforcement,and accident investigation throughout the entire city and presented weekly productivity reports to the Police Chief and her City Manager, and provided leadership to city-wide crime prevention efforts while synthesizing community policing philosophy with intelligence and lead policing strategies.  As Commander of this Unit, Ms. Fresé oversaw all Emergency Response Units, including SWAT, Dive, HNT, and Bomb Technicians. She provided leadership to  the Peer Support Team as the unit’s Commander.

As a Police Administration Commander, she has managed the Personnel Development Division which includes Training, CALEA, and major projects, and directed the hiring process, including recruitment, background investigations, and applicant processing. In this capacity, she has overseen the career development of all sworn and non-sworn members of the Department, directed the effective operations of the in-service training,Police Academy, and pistol range, and instituted a paid Police Cadet Program targeting high school  and college age students.

Ms. Fresé is expected to begin her service to the community once her P.O.S.T. background is complete and the City approves an employment agreement. I know her entire family is excited about moving to Monterey County and becoming a part of our Greenfield Community.

As you can tell, while I alone as City Manager will be making this appointment and am responsible for the ultimate management of City services, the appointment of Police Chief was a critical process that involved extensive community participation.  The appointment of Commander Fresé as our next Police Chief was a consensus decision by the members of this entire City organization.