On Tuesday May 21^st and again on Thursday May 23^rd the Corpus Christi Police Department responded to two different locations for reports of a Burglary to a Residence.

In each incident the suspect was described as a Hispanic Male. In one incident the reporting party added that the suspect appeared to be between the ages of 35 to 40 years of age, clean cut with short hair.

These two incidents are very concerning to the Corpus Christi Police Department as the suspect entered the residence while the victims were home, asleep and the suspect entered their bedrooms.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would ask our citizens to be sure to secure their residence at night by locking all your windows and doors.

These are active and ongoing investigations. If you have any information pertaining to these incidents, you are encouraged to call the Corpus Christi Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 361-886-2840.

Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and still provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online.

Neighborhood on Watch is a voluntary program organized by concerned citizens to reduce crime in their immediate communities. Working together with local law enforcement agencies, citizens can learn when and how to report suspicious activities, assist in property identification, conduct home security surveys and implement home security measures and precautions.

Neighborhood Watch meetings offer valuable information that helps neighbors cooperate effectively with one another. It also promotes effective security practices, creates more cognizant neighbors, and enhances the partnership between citizens and law enforcement.

If you are interested in starting your own Neighborhood on Watch program in your community call, Corpus Christi Police Department, Crime Prevention at 361-886-2768.

UPDATE: RAY RODRIGUEZ HAS BEEN FOUND AND IS SAFE.

Information that we have is that he was spending the night with a friend but forgot to tell anyone. The other party saw the post on Facebook and immediately bought him home. Thank you to everyone that helped to locate Ray.

Corpus Christi Police Officers need your help in locating a 9 year old boy. Ray Rodriguez was last seen in the area of 2500 Sands Drive at approximately 3:00pm today. Ray was last seen wearing a blue Captain America shirt, dark blue shorts and was riding a multicolored scooter. His hair is a little shorter than what is shown in this picture.

If you see Ray Rodriguez or know his whereabouts please call police at 361-886-2600 or dial 911.

The Corpus Christi Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (Corpus Christi office) and Texas Department of Public Safety (Criminal Investigation Division Corpus Christi office) conducted an online solicitation operation.

The operation which spanned over 5 days targeted individuals who were actively seeking to solicit inappropriate pictures of underage children or in some cases meet with children for the purpose of sexual activity. During the operation the following individuals were apprehended and arrested for the following charges:

Shane Smith Seay 03/12/64
Online Solicitation of a Minor (2^nd degree felony)

Lazaro Benito Rocha 12/07/92
Online Solicitation of a Minor (2^nd degree felony)
Distribution or Display of Harmful Material to a Minor (A misdemeanor)

*Additional warrants on other offenders related to this operation are forthcoming and those offenders will be arrested at a later date*

The CCPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and Texas Department of Public Safety continually strives to protect the children of the Corpus Christi and surrounding communities from these online predators. The CCPD ICAC unit reminds parents and guardians to be diligent in monitoring their children’s online activities on all their electronic devices.

Detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division conducted a minor sting operation Friday evening, checking compliance at beer and wine retailers across the city. NVID targeted the twelve convenience stores that sold alcoholic beverages to underage minors during a similar operation in March.

During Friday’s operation, two cooperating individuals, under the direction and close supervision of NVID Detectives attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages from convenience stores throughout the city.  Both individuals are over the age of eighteen but under twenty-one, the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages in Texas.   Of the twelve businesses checked, clerks at four sold alcoholic beverages to the underage operatives and were subsequently arrested.  Detectives also checked a local nightclub and arrested a bartender after she sold an alcoholic beverage to one of the cooperating minors.

The four store clerks and bartender who sold the alcoholic beverages face a charge of Sale to Minors (TABC 106.3,) a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4000.  NVID will forward the results of this operation to the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission for administrative action against the permittees, which could include revocation, suspension and/or fines.

Clerks at twelve of the twenty-two businesses checked during NVID’s March compliance operation sold alcoholic beverages to the minors. NVID sent warning letters to the management of all twelve convenience stores, informing them of the previous violations, and warning them of the consequences for continued violations.  “Hopefully this operation sends a clear message to the owners of these businesses,” said NVID Deputy Chief Todd Green.  “With high school graduation just over the horizon, we intend to do everything within our power to prevent underage consumption.”  Alcohol is a common denominator in underage traffic fatalities, and frequently leads to numerous other negative consequences.

The Corpus Christi Police Department has been working closely with TABC and the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office on these operations.  NVID will continue to collaborate with all government and private entities to combat underage drinking and help accomplish our mission of working with the community to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and enhance public safety.

An anti-prostitution operation conducted by the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division Thursday afternoon resulted in the arrests of ten women on charges of prostitution. A 34-year-old woman was charged with State Jail Felony prostitution, due to previous prostitution convictions. The remaining nine were charged with misdemeanor prostitution. The women were arrested after they solicited an undercover CCPD Officer for sex acts in exchange for money. The operation targeted several north and west side neighborhoods frequented by prostitutes.

NVID Detectives were assisted in the operation by Operations Division Crime Reduction Unit Officers, as well as civilians with the Red Cord Initiative. The Red Cord Initiative is a prostitution diversion program aimed to provide practical and emotional support for those involved in prostitution. The program is successful due to the collaboration between the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation, social service organizations, the Nueces County District Attorney Office, and the Corpus Christi Police Department. The program affords those involved with sex work an opportunity to address the myriad of behavioral, social, and psychological problems they have faced throughout their lifetime. Since 2013, Red Cord has provided case management, health services, job training, substance abuse treatment, clothing, housing, counseling, and other social services needed to address the circumstances related to their involvement in prostitution. Participants who successfully complete the program have their cases dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.

Four of the ten women arrested during Thursday’s operation agreed to participate and were accepted into the program, three were deemed ineligible, and three are pending. Since its inception in 2013, 222 men and women have been arrested for prostitution during these operations, 110 have qualified for the program, 69 were accepted, and 19 have graduated from the program. The Red Cord initiative receives no government funding and is supported entirely through donations. To learn more, volunteer or donate, citizens can visit the Coastal Bend Wellness foundation at www.cbwellness.org.

Although often inaccurately referred to as a “victimless” crime, prostitution is inextricably linked to multiple other crimes including assault, human trafficking, sexual abuse, drug abuse, and the spread of sexually transmitted infectious disease. Neighborhoods where prostitution is prevalent experience a drastic degradation of the quality of life that citizens expect and deserve. The Corpus Christi Police Department will continue to collaborate with all government and private entities to combat prostitution and help accomplish our mission of working with the community to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and enhance public safety.

How the scam works.

You are contacted by an individual via email, text or you find an advertisement about earning money by shrink wrapping your vehicle with an advertisement for a major company.

The suspect tells you that they will send you a check for a couple hundred dollars but when the check arrives it is for several thousand.

The suspect then tells you to deposit the full amount in your account and then wire most of the money to the company that will wrap your vehicle.

Weeks after you wire the money the check bounces and your bank tells you that it was a fake check. Now you are on the hook for the money that you wired, and you must pay back your bank.

How to keep from being a victim.

Trust your gut feeling, if it sounds too good to be true then it is.

If a company or anyone sends you more money than what you are expecting and then they ask you to wire the money back to them or to another person, it is most likely a scam.

Check the internet. You should do your research about the company or the deal that they are offering. A good place to find out about scams is the Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, or the Texas Attorney Generals Office.

BBB
https://www.bbb.org/

Federal Trade Commission
https://www.ftc.gov/

Texas Attorney General Office
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection

What to do if you are a victim.

If you are a victim be sure to contact the Corpus Christi Police Department so that a report can be generated to document the crime.

Corpus Christi Police Department
361-886-2600

You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Nueces County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help to locate 35-year-old Gilberto Guerrero Ballesteros (09/13/1983) who has two outstanding warrants; Forgery (No Bond) and Theft ($5,000 Bond).

Ballesteros is described as a 35-year-old white male who stands 5′ 08”, weighs approximately 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

(Gilberto Ballesteros 09/13/83)

If you know how to locate Ballesteros, call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.888tips.com, it can earn you a cash reward. The information you provide to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward. You may also contact the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office at 887-2239 or 887-2219 after 5:00 pm.

Corpus Christi Police Investigators would like help from the public to locate a missing person.

Brandon Alexander Rios (06/12/00) was reported missing on May 04, 2019 and was last seen by family members on May 03, 2019.

Brandon is described as an 18-year-old male who stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs approximately 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information that may assist Investigators or know the whereabouts of Brandon Rios, please call Corpus Christi Police Department directly by calling (361) 886-2600.