Occurred Thursday, March 29, 2012 8:18pm 5488 S.P.I.D. Possession Of Marijuana 1203290139

A 17-year-old was arrested Thursday night at the La Palmera Mall for possession of marijuana after an officer saw the man attempt to steal from cars in the parking lot.

Patrol Officer Daniel Sotello watched the parking lot from an unmarked police vehicle and saw 17-year-old Daniel Martinez (1/16/1995) walk through five rows of vehicles in the parking lot and pull on the door handles of multiple vehicles. Martinez talked on a cell phone as he checked the doors of vehicles.

A blue Chevy Silverado truck responded to turn away as Officer Sotello approached Martinez. The Silverado left the area before police could investigate the truck. Martinez was apprehended by Sotello and arrested for possession of marijuana after the contraband was discovered in the possession of Martinez. The Possession of marijuana charge is a Class B Misdemeanor because of the quantity of the contraband and is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

The Corpus Christi Police Auto theft Task Force continue to investigate and gather information about this event and request help from the public to locate a blue two toned Chevy Silverado that may have been involved in this case. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or log on to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

To learn about reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi, the public may search Crimereports.com.

Occurred on 3/21/12, 6:08 p.m.   Theft   4830 Everhart   1203210101

Officers responded to the First Cash Pawn at 4830 Everhart for a theft in which a customer and store employees were chasing a suspect.  Store employees reported a male entered the store and asked to be shown a $1,200 necklace. 

The male grabbed the necklace and ran towards the locked side of the double doors and smacked his head onto the glass door.  He was able to escape and a couple of employees along with a customer gave chase.

The suspect reached his vehicle and as he struggled to unlock the car door, his pursuers were able to catch up to him.  The suspect finally opened his car door and reached underneath his seat.  The customer, a concealed handgun license holder felt the suspect was reaching for a weapon and drew his weapon, ordering the suspect to give up.  The suspect fled again, but threw the stolen necklace on the ground as he ran off.  The store employees and the customer discontinued their pursuit.  The stolen necklace was recovered and returned to the store.

A search for the suspect proved unsuccessful, but shortly thereafter, Officers received a call in which the suspect vehicle was reported stolen.  Further investigation revealed the suspect’s mother and owner of the vehicle called the Police Department wanting to report the gold Chevrolet Impala stolen.

The suspect was identified and the investigation will continue by the Corpus Christi Police Department Property Crimes Division.

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.

Occurred on 3/13/12, 10:06 a.m.   Burglary of a Habitation   4830 Marie    1203130045    

Officers M. Pici and D. Gipson responded to a burglary in progress with the victim following the suspects. The victim lost sight of the suspects in the area of French and Lamont and returned home.  Officers talked to the victim who reported she arrived home to find a White male removing lawn equipment from her garage and putting it in a yellow Chevrolet pick-up truck.  The male who was accompanied by a White female drove off and the victim quickly followed.

Officer J. Lee began researching the owner information and found him to frequent the pawn shops.  The information was passed on to his fellow Officers who began checking the pawn shop in the area.  Officer D. Gipson found the pick-up truck parked at the First Cash Pawn, 4336 Ayers, occupied by the female.  The driver Robert Dreith (03/03/79) was found inside the business pawning the stolen lawn equipment.

Dreith was positively identified by the victim and arrested.  He was charged with Burglary of a Habitation and an outstanding Nueces County warrant along with an outstanding Municipal Court warrant.

Further investigation revealed the female had given Dreith a ride to a friend’s house to pick up the “borrowed” lawn equipment.

The stolen property valued at $540.00 was returned to the victim.

Occurred on 3/13/12, 8:23 p.m.   Aggravated Robbery   4800 Franklin   1203130134

Officers contacted the 26-year-old victim who reported she was watching television with her 7-year-old son when someone knocked on the door.  The victim opened the door and three White or Hispanic males pushed their way inside her home. 

The victim told Officers she was assaulted and held at gunpoint as they searched the house looking for her boyfriend.  The armed male ordered her to keep her son quiet when he began to cry. 

The suspects’ ransacked the home and took several items.  The victim was unable to tell Officers what belongings were stolen or provide a more detailed description of the male suspects. 

Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Bureau.

Occurred on 3/13/12, 03:15   Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Evading Arrest   1600 Devon Street   1203130020~C1201903/C1201904

Officers were investigating the report of a stolen silver 2000 Mercedes-Benz when it was spotted at Brentwood and Horne Road.  The Officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver refused to stop and fled. 

The Officers pursued the Mercedes to the 700 block of Blevins where it left the roadway and struck the fence at 1253 Cambridge Drive.  The driver returned to the roadway and headed eastbound on Blevins. 

The driver collided with the stop sign at Shely and Tyler causing it to spin out of control and strike the home at 1129 Tyler. 

The driver bailed and fled on foot escaping Officers.  The suspect is described as a Hispanic male who was last seen wearing shorts and a black shirt. 

There was minor damage to the home and no injuries have been reported.

Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Traffic Division at 361-886-2596.

Occurred March 9, 2012  9:35pm   Saratoga at Everhart         1203090142

A 37-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested Friday after their vehicle ran out of gas and a police officer stopped to help.

Patrol Officer Paul Janko saw a gray 2001 Mercedes 4 door sedan stopped in the roadway and obstructed traffic on Saratoga Boulevard near Everhart Road. Officer Janko stopped behind the Mercedes to provide assistance. Officer Janko asked the occupants to exit the vehicle to a safer area because there was congested traffic and the road was wet from misty conditions. The occupants of the vehicle explained the vehicle was out of fuel.

Officer Janko discovered the front seat passenger, 26-year-old Veronica Guerra (11-4-1985), had an active warrant for her arrest. Guerra was arrested for the warrant for arrest. Guerra was found in possession of contraband so Guerra was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Officer Janko saw a plastic bag that contained a white powdery substance in the front center console cup holder of the vehicle. The operator of the vehicle, 37-year-old Chema Rodriguez (10-4-1974), was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

The rear seat passenger received a citation for possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle. The vehicle was impounded and the rear seat passenger was released at the scene.