Category Archives: Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Corpus Christi Police Officers Receive Body Cams Under DOJ Grant

The last of 130 Body Worn Cameras purchased with a 2015 Department of Justice grant are being deployed to Officers of the Corpus Christi Police Operations Division this week.

The Corpus Christi Police was one of only 73 police departments nationwide to receive funding under the initial DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance grant award in 2015. In 2015, Congress, after urging by the President, appropriated approximately twenty million dollars in grant funding to assist local and state law enforcement agencies with the development of body worn camera programs.  This followed several controversial police/citizen incidents across the nation, including Ferguson, Baltimore, and New York City.  The $250,000 grant awarded to the Corpus Christi Police includes $125,000 in city matching funds.

Prior to receiving the cameras, officers must complete three hours of state mandated training. The training includes information on the functions and proper operation of the camera, department policy, state open records law, the effectiveness of digital video evidence, the limitations of body worn cameras, and privacy considerations when recording.  To pass the course, officers must successfully demonstrate the ability to record a video, and then properly tag and upload the video into the patrol car or desktop computer.  Upon completion of deployment, over one third of the Department’s uniformed officers will be equipped with BWCs.

The new Body Worn Cameras, which will replace the 78 BWCs loaned to Corpus Christi Police by Nueces County under a 2014 Texas Domestic Violence grant, offer several significant advantages to the previous model. Video from the new BWCs can be uploaded directly into the Officer’s patrol car dash cam system, saving officers time at the end of shift and keeping them in the field longer to respond to calls.  The new cameras also have a detachable remote camera to allow officers alternative mounting options, and infra-red lights for better recording performance in low light situations.

Adam District, Bravo District, Charlie District, Community Outreach, Crime Stoppers, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Shooting Leads to Citys Latest Homicide

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 10:55 PM
Location: 2630 Waldron
Offense: Murder
Case Number: 1702140141

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a shooting at 2630 Waldron Rd. Upon arrival officers located a 17 year old male victim with an apparent gunshot wound to his torso. Officers started administered first aid until the medics arrived and transported the victim to the hospital. The victim (Timothy Echols Jr.) died from his injuries at the hospital.

Officers investigated and the preliminary information is that the suspect described as a thin black male wearing glasses came to the apartment. The suspect and the victim engaged in a conversation that escalated. At some point the suspect shot the victim in the upper torso and fled the scene in a white vehicle. Officers separated the witnesses and transported them to the police station to be interviewed. Detectives arrived and began their investigation. Detectives were able to gather enough information and are looking for a person of interest in this case. This is still an ongoing investigation and information is still being gathered.

If you have any information about this crime please call 361/886-2840 or call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers  is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

Adam District, Bravo District, Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested.

Date: Monday, February 13, 2017, 4:27 PM
Location: 4102 Baldwin Blvd.
Offense: Aggravated Robbery
Case Number: 1702130118

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to 4102 Baldwin at Kleberg Bank in reference to a robbery involving a weapon. Officers arrived and contained the scene. Witnesses advised that a black male wearing a red shirt came in and asked to use the phones and the restroom. The suspect approached a teller and passed a note and gestured as if he had a gun. The suspect exited the bank and left towards Agnes and Airport. Detectives arrived on the scene and interviewed the witnesses.

Information was put out and an officer stated that the suspect description matched a suspect that tried to pass a bad check earlier in the area of 3700 Leopard. That suspect was wearing a red shirt and driving a black Jeep Cherokee which had old damage to the right front quarter panel. Officers searched the area and located the vehicle a local hotel in the 5300 block of Leopard. The vehicle was still warm and a witness advised they saw a subject matching the description leave the vehicle. Officers secured the area and began a search. Officers located the suspect and a couple other people in one of the rooms. A consent to search was obtained and offices located the money and the suspects clothing. Officers arrested Roy Robertson (04/20/1982) for Aggravated Robbery and Terrance D. Hensley (01/03/1984) for failure to identify as a fugitive and a active parole violation warrant for robbery. Both suspects were taken to the main police station to be interviewed and then transported to the City Detention Center.

Adam District, Bravo District, Charlie District, Community Outreach, Crime Stoppers, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Police Investigators Need Your Help

Date: Sunday, January 22, 2017, 11:32 PM
Location: IH 37 and Violet
Offense: Murder
Case Number: 1701230003

Police Detectives need your help in the Murder case of Andre Fuqua. Detectives have very limited information and are looking for a white SUV that might have been in the area of the incident at approximately 11:30 PM and might possibly have information about the case.

If you have any information about this crime or know the identity of the vehicle , please call Detective Hemerly @ 361/886-2617 or call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers  is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

Community Outreach

Public May Text 911 For Emergency Help In Corpus Christi

Text messages may be sent to 911 in the Corpus Christi area and Nueces County.

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MetroCom 911 Program Manager Kathleen Porche said the pubic should  send a text only if a voice call is not possible. Porche said to call 911 if you can, but you can text if you are not able to call. Porche said to text your location and not rely on cell phone locator systems. Porche said to use plain language and do not use slang or acronyms. Porche said the public should not send emojis, group messages, photos, or videos because the system will not work with those features.
If you have an emergency in Corpus Christi, call 911 if you can, text if you can’t.

See the Public Service Announcement:

Community Outreach

Police Remember Frank Dolan

Dolan 8X10

Sergeant Frank Dolan was killed on February 12, 1960 in an automobile accident on Highway 624, near Orange Grove, while returning to Corpus Christi from a meeting in Alice.

His vehicle went out of control on a curve in the road during a period of snow and slushy conditions. His car was broadsided by another vehicle, causing him to suffer fatal injuries.

Sergeant Dolan was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Corpus Christi Police Department for 24 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/21563-sergeant-frank-edward-dolan#ixzz2KiZb6qk6

Community Outreach

Detectives Want Help From the Public to Identify Men Accused of Assault

Date: Monday, February 6, 2017, 18:05
Location: 11500 Gulf Beach Road
Offense: Assault
Case Number: 1702060124

Corpus Christi Police would like help from the public to identify and locate men believed to be involved in an assault on Padre Island Monday evening.

A 53 year old man reported the assault to Corpus Christi Police at 6pm Monday evening at Zahn Road near State Highway 361. The 53 year old man told Officers he saw a fight between several men and those men left the area before law enforcement arrived.

Officers did not find a victim on scene, but witnesses said the group of men took the victim away in a white truck. Detectives are working to better understand this case. Detectives believe they have images of the men involved in the assault and would like help to identify and locate the men.

yellow-shirt-1black-shirt-guy white-shirt-guy

The men were in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck that had two doors, a toolbox in the back, and had damage to the driver’s side rear quarter panel.

zahn-rd-and-361_2_6_2017-6_02_18_511-pm

Anyone who can identify or locate these men should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

Adam District, Bravo District, Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Patrol Report February 9, 2017

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 5:40 PM
Location: 1400 Martin Luther King Dr.
Offense: Aggravated Assault
Case Number: 1702080149

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a stabbing in the area of 1400 Martin Luther King Dr. CCFD Medics were on the scene and were transporting the 47 year old male to Spohn Memorial Hospital. Medics advised the victim had an injury to his neck consistent with a stabbing. Officers located the crime scene near a tree behind the old police station. Officers contacted a witness who heard a argument between the victim and another person. At some point the victim was stabbed. The last update we had on the victim was that he had surgery and was in critical condition.There is not much more information available at this time.

If you have any information about this crime or know the identity of the suspect, please call 361/886-2840 or call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers  is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2017, 2:16 AM
Location: 700 N. Port
Offense: Aggravated Assault
Case Number: 1702090009

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a shooting in the 700 block of North Port. Upon arrival officers contacted the victim who was bleeding from his face and had blood all over his clothing. Officers believe that the victim had been shot. Officers asked the 35 year old male victim what happened but were unable to get any useful information. CCFD Medics arrived and transported the victim to Spohn Memorial Hospital for treatment. Offices checked the area and found blood in the parking lot of the hotel. Officers contacted some of the guests of the hotel but they were not able to provide any information to assist in the investigation. Officers have few leads in this case.

If you have any information about this crime or know the identity of the suspect, please call 361/886-2840 or call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers  is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

 

Adam District, Bravo District, Charlie District, Community Outreach, Delta District, Narcotics/Vice Division, Patrol Division, SWAT Operations

Narcotics Raid at 100 Josephine

As part of an ongoing focus on quality of life issues, an early morning drug raid by the CCPD has shut down a problem drug house near City Hall.  At approximately 0545 hours, the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics Vice Investigations Division, assisted by the CCPD S.W.A.T team, served a search warrant at 110 Josephine.  This warrant was the result of a lengthy investigation brought about by neighborhood complaints and was a joint effort between NVID investigators and CCPD uniformed patrol officers, who collaborated to shut down this neighborhood crack house and dealer. 

During the search of the residence, officers found and seized a small amount of crack and powdered cocaine, approximately one ounce of Synthetic Cannabinoid and a small quantity of marijuana.  Also seized was a new in the box Remington 870 shotgun which is suspected to be stolen pending contact with the registered owner.  Officers also confiscated $1867.00 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of illegal drug sales.  A quantity of paraphernalia used for the making of crack cocaine, drug scales, multiple cell phones, and the surveillance system that was being used by the suspect were also seized.      

drug-raid-100-josephine

Suspect Ruben Vallejo (6-23-89) was arrested and charged with First Degree Felony Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 2/2A and Second Degree Felony Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1.  Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana and other charges related to the recovered firearm are pending further investigation at this time.   

This successful operation was yet another example of an innovative collaboration between the Department’s Uniform Division and NVID to attack neighborhood drug dealers who degrade the community’s quality of life.  Under this program, Officers from the Uniform Division are temporarily assigned to the NVID, where they learn advanced narcotics investigations techniques such as conducting surveillance, managing informants, drafting search warrants, raid planning, and search warrant execution.  Patrol Officers bring a problem drug house from their assigned beat with them to NVID, where they are then paired with a NVID Investigator to attack the problem.  This joint response to neighborhood quality of life issues results in an all-around win for all involved, except, of course, for the drug dealers who fall into the team’s sights.  Patrol Officers return to their division with advanced training, skills and knowledge, NVID benefits from the additional resources and street level intelligence, and most importantly, the residents and business owners of the neighborhood are freed from the blight of neighborhood drug dealers.

Adam District, Animal Control, Bravo District, Charlie District, Community Outreach, Delta District, Patrol Division

Patrol Report February 8, 2017

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2017, 7:38 PM
Location: Carroll and McArdle
Offense: Aggravated Assault
Case Number: 1702070138

Corpus Christi Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Carroll and McArdle in reference to a criminal mischief in progress. Officers were contacted by a witness who advised that a black SUV intentionally struck another vehicle. The witness pointed the officers in the direction. Officers made contact with the 55 year old female suspect. She advised that she got into a disturbance with the 29 year old female victim. The suspect met with the victim about medical services. The suspect confronted the victim because her purse was taken and she felt she was set up by the victim. Officers asked the suspect if she struck the victims vehicle to which she denied and stated the victim stuck her vehicle.

Officers contact the victim who stated that she was being followed by the suspect . The victim stated that the suspect struck her vehicle from behind. The victim turned onto Carroll and was still being followed by the suspect. The victim stopped at a park to pick up her children and noticed that the suspect was still driving in a reckless manner. The victim had seated a 7 year old female and a 10 year old male in the back seat when the front of her vehicle was struck by the suspect. The victim stated that she does not know the suspect and had no prior contact with her. The victim stated that she did get into a struggle with the suspect over her keys because she did not want her to leave.

Officers contacted the witness a second time and he advised that he saw the suspect vehicle intentionally strike the victims vehicle twice. Officers arrested Esmeralda Ybarra (11-21-1961) for aggravated assault and transported her to the City Detention Center.

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 3:16 AM
Location: 600 SPID
Event: Loose pot bellied pig

Corpus Christi Police Officers were dispatched to 600 SPID in reference to a call of a large pot bellied pig following customers in the parking lot of Stripes. Officers arrived and located the suspected animal. The pot bellied pig appeared to be a pet but had injuries to its back. The pot bellied pig was friendly and was contained in the area until animal control officers arrived and took custody of it. It is unknown where the animal came from. If you have any knowledge of this pot bellied pig please contact Animal Care Services.