Category Archives: Community Outreach

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

Corpus Christi Police Demonstrate Motorcycle Skills

Senior Officers T. Cabello; B. Nunez; Lieutenant I. Soza; L. Lopez; and J. Elliott competed in the Motorcycle Skills Competition in Grand Prairie, Texas
Senior Officers T. Cabello; B. Nunez; Lieutenant I. Soza; L. Lopez; and J. Elliott competed in the Motorcycle Skills Competition in Grand Prairie, Texas
Officers display their trophies from the Motorcycle Skill Competition
Officers display their trophies from the Motorcycle Skills Competition

Five Corpus Christi Police Motorcycle Officers who are assigned to the Traffic Safety Section traveled to Grand Prairie, TX to compete in the 2014 JWA Police Motorcycle Skills and Competition Rodeo the week of April 21st.  Our Officers who represented the Corpus Christi Police Department were Lt. I. Soza; Senior Officers J. Elliott; L. Lopez, R. Nunez; and T. Cabello.  City, county, and state troopers from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas attended the event.  A total of 110 competitors were on hand to demonstrate their motor skills in hopes to be the best.  The event consisted of three days of extensive training and two days of competition.  A total of 9 trophies were awarded to our Officers which speaks high volumes for our motorcycle unit.  The following are the results from our officers:  Cabello – 1st place Division 3 Expert Main Competition, 1st place Eliminator Course, 2nd place 4 Man Race, 3rd place Challenge Run, and 3rd place Mr. Rodeo.  Nunez – 1st place Division 3 Novice.  Soza – 2nd place Division 3 novice.  Elliott – 6th place Division 2 novice.  Lopez – 7th place Division 2 novice.  “These officers did an outstanding job in placing CCPD on the competitive market and bringing home this hardware”, Lt. Soza said.  “There is a lot of talent in this unit…  My goal is to exploit those talents and continue to train hard with the continued support from our administration.”  Lt. Soza said that there will be other motorcycle rodeos they plan to attend but always places his priority first in the departments needs and mission.  ​ 

Community Outreach

Animal Care Services Teams with Kaplan College to Raise Awareness

Students and volunteers from Kaplan College fan out around City Hall Thursday to raise awareness on responsible pet ownership.
Students and volunteers from Kaplan College fan out around City Hall Thursday to raise awareness on responsible pet ownership.

Over 80 students  and volunteers from Kaplan College joined Animal Care Services staff Thursday afternoon as they canvassed the neighborhoods around City Hall to raise awareness on responsible pet ownership.  The neighborhood is a source of frequent complaints to ACS and City Hall staff about stray dogs and cats.  Volunteers and staff went door to door, met with homeless shelters employees and their clients, as well as local businesses owners to drop off flyers and educate the public on:

  • Responsible pet ownership and city ordinances
  • Leash law and fencing
  • Pet overpopulation and the importance of spay/neuter surgery
  • Importance of rabies vaccinations
  • Proper nutrition for pets.

ACS staff and volunteers met with many homeless pet owners to encourage them to vaccinate and spay or neuter their pets.  ACS staff were able to schedule free spay/neuter surgeries for many pet owners.  The money to pay for the surgeries will  come from the $30,000 ASPCA Rachael Ray award that Animal Care Services won last August . Homeless pet owners were given bags of dog food, leashes, and educated on animal wellness. In addition to the responsible pet ownership advice, Kaplan students took vital signs and gave wellness advice to the homeless.

Kaplan students will be at Animal Care Services, 2626 Holly Rd, today at 10:00AM to volunteer throughout the facility. Students will bathe, socialize, and assist with adoptable pets. Students will also be invited to watch spay/neuter surgeries and assist in the shelter veterinarian clinic.

Community Outreach

That’s not how they taught it in Welding Class

Human Torch

Date: Sunday, March 9, 2014 12:53am
Location: 14058 Northwest Blvd.
Offense: Burglary to Coin Operated Machine (PC 30.03) A Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1403090027

Corpus Christi Property Crimes Detectives need your help in identifying and locating this person and vehicle of interest. Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to Ocean In Motion Laser Car wash because someone broke into their dispensing machines. The complainant advised that a suspect drove up in a FORD F-450 flatbed truck equipped with welding equipment. The vehicle was seen pulling up next to the towel and ArmorAll dispensing machines. He exited the vehicle and fired up his cutting torch and proceeded to cut the locks off the machines. As he was working on the machines it appears that he was startled, he put his tools away, got into his truck and drove away. The video can be viewed on YouTube at http://youtu.be/mjkoDMjFg7M.

Anyone who can identify this vehicle and person of interest, 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.

Community Outreach

If It Doesn’t Belong to You, Leave it Alone.

Chilis 1403040065

Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2014 11:58am
Location: 4120 Highway 77 Access North Bound
Offense: Burglary to Vehicle (PC 30.04) A Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1403040065

Corpus Christi Auto Burglary Detectives need your help in identifying and locating this person and vehicle of interest for taking an object out of the bed of a truck on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 11:58am. Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to the Chili’s at 4120 Highway 77 Access North Bound after the manager called in a vehicle burglary. The manager told officers that he saw the suspect vehicle enter the parking lot and park next to a black truck. The manager stated the vehicle matched a description of one that was involved in a vehicle burglary a couple of days earlier. He saw the suspect get out of the vehicle and reach into the bed of the black truck and take something. The manager said that he saw the suspect holding large pair of bolt cutters when he went and confronted him. He took the bolt cutters from the suspect who got in his truck and left the scene.

The driver of the truck is described as a possible Hispanic male, between 48 to 55 years of age, he had grey receding hair and a beard. The video can be viewed on YouTube at http://youtu.be/H7J28iD2_QE.

Anyone who can identify this vehicle and person of interest, 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.

Community Outreach

Can You Identify These Burglars?

Boots and Britches burg

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.

Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Police Seek Help to Identify a Man Exposing Himself

Indecent exposure suspect.001 Indecent exposure suspect.002

Date: Saturday March 29, 2014 at 6:13pm  and Sunday April 13, 2014 at 5:46pm
Location: 3900 Fort Worth Street
Offense: Indecency With a Child (PC 21.11) 3rd Degree Felony. Indecent Exposure (PC 21.08) B Misdemeanor
Case numbers: 1403290135, 1404130120

Corpus Christi Police Detectives are investigating reports of a man exposing himself several times in the area of 3900 Fort Worth Street. One complainant stated that she heard her child scream and stated that the suspect was exposing himself and masturbating. When confronted he fled the scene. In another incident a complainant stated that her child was playing in the park when a man approached not wearing any pants. When the suspect was confronted he fled the scene.

The suspect is described as a dark skinned man, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, approximately 190 pounds, black hair and brown eyes, wearing a ball cap, jeans and a long sleeve shirt. He was seen in a blue Dodge Ram pick up truck and possibly a white truck.

Anyone who has any additional information about this crime or knows the identity of this person of interest should call  Corpus Christi Police Detective Lee Galloway at (361) 808-6247. 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.

Community Outreach

Citizens Transporting Trapped Opossums to Animal Care Services Okay Says Texas Parks and Wildlife

Corpus Christi Citizens who transport trapped opossums to Animal Care Services are not in violation of the regulation prohibiting the transport and release of nuisance fur bearing animals, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Assistant Commander Kevin Davis. According to Davis, “Since the City of Corpus Christi has obtained necessary authorization from the department to allow a mechanism for release of nuisance furbearers to the wild, it is the position of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division that individuals transporting nuisance opossums to the city for disposal as allowed under the city’s letter of authorization is permissible.” Animal Care Services will still be responsible for the reporting guidelines required under Texas Administrative Code Chapter 65.

The message from Assistant Commander Davis, Wildlife Law Administrator for TXPWD, came in response to a concern raised by a Corpus Christi resident during public comment at last week’s city council meeting. The resident informed the city council that citizens who transport trapped opossums to the Animal Care Services facility were in violation of this regulation. Animal Care Services had requested and received a waiver from Texas Parks and Wildlife in March, allowing staff to release trapped opossums back into the wild on city owned property. According to Davis, as long as citizens are abiding by the terms set out in the city’s program and transport the opossums directly to the city facility, they are covered under the letter of authorization issued by Texas Parks and Wildlife. The waiver only applies to citizens transporting nuisance opossums said Davis. Citizens who have trapped high risk rabies carrying wildlife such as skunks, raccoons, and foxes should continue to call ACS for transport. ACS employees will pick up these animals regardless of whether they are caught in a city or privately owned trap.

Community Outreach

Aggravated Robbery

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.

Community Outreach, Narcotics/Vice Division

Drug Take Back Event announced

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION CONDUCTS FOURTH COASTAL BEND PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY ON APRIL 26, 2014

“Living Drug Free Starts at Home”

(Corpus Christi, TX) – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with the Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass, Portland, Sinton, and Alice Police Departments and the Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office, will provide the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. On Saturday, April 26th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., DEA along with its local law enforcement partners nation-wide will host the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. This is a free service and nine Take-Back locations will be available within the Coastal Bend Community.

Last October, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners.  When those results are combined with what was collected in its seven previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 3.4 million pounds—more than 1,700 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.  Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.   Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – pose potential safety and health hazards.

“Prescription drug abuse is a major epidemic across the country and DEA is committed to reducing the potential for misuse by providing a safe and secure method for Americans to clean out their medicine cabinets and properly dispose of unwanted, unneeded, or expired medication,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart.  “This nationwide community effort prevents home medicine cabinets from becoming sources of dangerous – and even deadly – drugs.”

DEA is in the process of approving new regulations that implement the Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.  DEA is in the process of drafting regulations to implement the Act.

Coastal Bend Collection Sites are listed below:

  • Kiii TV                                          5002 South Padre Island Drive                      Corpus Christi
  • HEB                                              3033 S. Port Avenue                                       Corpus Christi
  • HEB                                              5313 SaratogaBlvd                                        Corpus Christi
  • HEB (Flour Bluff)                                    1145 WaldronRd.                                          Corpus Christi
  • HEB (Annaville)                           11100 Leopard St.                                          Corpus Christi
  • HEB                                              1600 Wildcat Blvd.                                        Portland
  • HEB                                              409 E. Kleberg                                                Kingsville
  • HEB (Aransas Pass)                      101 E. Goodnight Avenue                              Aransas Pass
  • HEB (Sinton)                                106 S. San Patricio                                          Sinton
  • HEB (ALICE)                              1115 E. Main St.                                             Alice

For more information and collection sites nation-wide, please visit www.dea.gov.

U.S. Department of Justice
       Drug Enforcement Administration
Houston Field Division
Corpus Christi Resident Office
http://www.dea.gov                                                                                                                                                                                                       Date: April 8, 2014
Contact: Richard G. Thomas
Resident Agent in Charge
Number: (361) 887-1200

Community Outreach

Two Robberies in less than 15 minutes

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.