DATE: 08/08/2014 6:37 PM
LOCATION: 4101 Ayers Street
OFFENSE: Theft (PC 31.03 State Jail Felony)
CASE # 1408080026
Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to the Stripes Store located at 4101 Ayers St. after two suspects stole the car wash pay station and control box from the rear of the store. Surveillance footage of the incident shows two males in a white Ford truck drive up to the car wash and the driver exits and gets a strap from the bed of the truck. He places the strap on the ground next to the control box and gets back into the pickup and drives through the car wash, and leaves for a moment. The driver is seen wearing a dark shirt and dark shorts with a wide brimmed hat. The truck returns and parks on the outside of the car wash lane next to the box and the passenger gets out and wraps the strap around the control box, and attaches the other end to the rear bumper of the pickup. The driver moves forward pulling the control box from its base and the passenger picks it up and places it in the bed of the pickup. The passenger then gets in the truck and they drive off. The passenger is described as a male, wearing a light colored button up shirt, dark shorts and he is also wearing a wide brimmed hat. The truck is believed to be an older model white Ford F150 with chrome wheels and it may possibly have a heavy duty aftermarket rear bumper. The car wash pay station control box is valued at over $15,000.00. Anyone who can identify the individuals responsible for this theft, or has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police Property Crimes Detectives at 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 information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

suspect vehicle with driver outside

Suspect vehicle with passenger outside

Suspect vehicle with passenger hooking up strap

Suspect vehicle pulling into car wash driveway

UPDATE: 

On Saturday, August 9th 2014, Detectives with the Homicide Division obtained an arrest warrant for Jessie Salazar (10-02-1995).

Detectives were informed that Salazar had turned himself in to the Nueces County Jail on Monday afternoon at approximately 3:15 p.m. His bond was set at $250,000.00

DATE: August 9, 2014         6:39 AM
LOCATION: 2200 Ruth Street
OFFENSE: Murder (PC19.02 First Degree Felony)
CASE # 1408090053
At 6:39 AM, Saturday morning, Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a suspicious person call at a home located at 2222 Ruth Street.

A 15 year old male called police after he went outside of his house and saw a man lying on the ground. Officers found a 29 year old male victim down a driveway on the east side of the house underneath the stairway leading to an upstairs apartment. The victim had multiple gunshot wounds and was dead at the scene.

Officers were able to contact several witnesses who heard gunshots in the area at about 10:00 PM on Friday night. Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a call for shots fired at 10:08 PM on Friday night in that area and did recover an unfired bullet, and at this time it is unknown if that evidence is related to the homicide. Officers did not see the victim at that time due to the darkness and the victim’s position.

At this time Corpus Christi Police Homicide Detective are investigating this crime and no suspects have been arrested.

The Corpus Christi Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in helping them locate a wanted person. Rosendo Gonzales (02/13/1996) is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for the robbery of the Snappy Foods Store located at 4617 Ayers St. on July 16.  There is a $50,000 bond set on the warrant.  We ask that anyone with any information on his whereabouts to call Corpus Christi Police at 361-886-2600.

Anyone who would like to provide information to the investigators and keep their identity secret may provide the information through Crime Stoppers at 886-TIPS (8477) or online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward

“Charlie” District

Date: 07/30/2014 10:20pm
Location: 5802 Everhart Rd.
Offense: Aggravated Robbery (P.C. 29.03 1st Degree Felony)
Case Number: 1407300154

Officers responded to a report of a home invasion at 5802 Everhart, Glen Willows apartments. Officers contacted the victim who advised that he heard several loud bangs on the front door. The door flew open and two suspects entered the apartment, one of the suspects had a handgun. They ordered the victim not to move and asked for two subjects by name. The victim advised he did not know those people. The suspects ordered the victim to lay down on the floor and asked where the money and guns were. The victim told the suspect who then took the items and fled the scene.  The suspects are described to be approx 5’8″ tall weighing approximately 160 pounds. Both suspects had tattoos and short hair, one was clean shaven and the other had a goatee. Investigators believe that the suspects are known to the victim.

Anyone who has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police Robbery Detectives at 886-2841. 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 information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

“Bravo” District

Date: 07/30/2014 5:00am
Location: 14049 SPID
Offense: Burglary (State Jail Felony)
Case Number: 1407300031

Officers responded to a burglary of a business at 14049 SPID. The owner advised that someone broke into the business and stole about 80 sets of expensive sunglasses. The suspect, who was wearing a grey hooded pullover, blue jeans, black and white tennis shoes and white gloves was captured on video surveillance breaking into the store. The suspect exited the store carrying a black bag. The owner advised this is not the first time this has happened and that the same items are stolen each time. The owner is in the process of providing a copy of the video surveillance to the investigators.

Anyone who has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police Property Crimes Detectives at 886-2841. 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 information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

“Charlie” District

Date: 07/30-31/2014 10:30 PM, 2:25am
Location: 1900 Rodd Field, Airline and SPID
Offense: Driving While Intoxicated, 2 or more prior convictions (3rd Degree Felony)
Case Numbers: 1407300172, 1407310019

Officers Mike Rogers and Alexandria Molina were dispatched to the area of 1900 Rodd Field in reference to a vehicle swerving all over the road. Officers arrived and located the vehicle trying to reverse out of the grassy easement and drive on the sidewalk turning into a parking lot. The officers stopped the vehicle and observed signs of intoxication. A Standardized Field Sobriety Test was performed to which the suspect did not pass. The suspect, April Martinez (6-07-1971) was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated. April Martinez refused to give a breath sample, a blood withdrawal warrant was obtained and a sample of her was taken at Spohn Shoreline.  April Martinez was transported to the City Detention Center where it was discovered that she had two prior convictions for DWI. Her DWI charge was enhanced to a 3rd Degree Felony.

Four hours later, Officers Mike Rogers and Alexandria Molina responded to a call at Airline and SPID in reference to a man down. When the officers arrived they observed a vehicle at the light with a male occupant asleep at the wheel. Officers contacted the male and safely put the vehicle in park. While he was being checked out by medics at the scene, the officers observed signs of intoxication. After medics cleared the scene he was asked to perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Test. The suspect did not pass the test. The suspect,  Alex Alvarado (10-18-1989) was arrested and transported to the City Detention Center. Alex was also found to have two or more prior convictions for DWI and his DWI charge was enhanced to a 3rd Degree Felony.

Great investigative work by the officers in taking two repeat DWI offenders off the street.

30 Year Anniversary of the Death of Sergeant Ruben Almanza

On July 27, 1984, Sergeant Ruben Almanza was assigned to the Narcotics Division and responded to assist officers on an armed robbery of the H.E.B. at Kostoryz and Gollihar.

The suspects fled in a vehicle and bailed on foot in the residential neighborhood at Harold Street and Carroll Lane. Sergeant Almanza, working in plain clothes, walked through yards on Harold Street looking for the suspect when he was ambushed and shot through a hole in a fence board by the suspect.

Almanza fell to the ground and the suspect climbed over the fence and straddled Almanza, taking his service weapon, and then appeared he was going to shoot him again. At that point, now retired Lieutenant Eric Wramp, peered over the fence and fatally shot the suspect. Sergeant Almanza was rushed to the hospital where he later passed away from his injuries a few minutes after midnight on July 28th.

Ruben joined the department on August 28, 1975. He worked in patrol and was later assigned to Special Services. Ruben’s police radio call sign was #419 while assigned to narcotics. The number was retired upon his death.

There are a few officers still working today which had the privilege and honor to have worked with Ruben. Sergeant Almanza is survived by his wife, Irma and three daughters, Melissa, Jennifer, and Tina.

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a report of a man with a gun at about 8:45 AM this morning. Officers arrived and observed a male matching the description of the suspect go into a home located in the 900 block of Flour Bluff Dr. They were able to make contact with the 38 year old male, and he came outside to talk to them. Officers determined that the male was upset about some graffiti that had been spray painted on the wall outside his home. He admitted to walking outside with an assault rifle strapped to his back. Three witnesses who saw the male and contacted police said that they were not threatened and that he did not point the weapon at anyone. The man made a decision to leave and go talk with medical professionals regarding an evaluation of his mental health. No criminal charges are expected to be filed and his weapon was returned to him.

During the 4th of July weekend the Corpus Christi Police Department assigned additional officers to assist with the large crowds that were expected at the beach and in the downtown area. Officers also accompanied the CCFD on a fireworks detail.

The following numbers are from the holiday weekend beginning on July 3, 2014 to include all officers working.

DWI’s:
7/3 – 7
7/4 – 6
7/5 – 6
7/6 – 9

In 2013 the number of DWI’s was 15 for the same time frame.

Between 6 p.m. July 4th to 5 a.m. July 5th the Corpus Christi Police Department’s MetroCom (Dispatch) received a total of 1,570 calls for service (1,178 in 2013). Of those calls, 491 were solely for fireworks (395 in 2013).

Officers issued 42 Firework Citations over the weekend.