Category Archives: Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Police Designate Fireworks Enforcement Patrol

The Corpus Christi Police Department has a plan for fireworks enforcement for the New Year’s celebration time in an effort to make the holiday safer for everyone. Not only will there be additional Corpus Christi Police Officers designated for the sole purpose of Driving While Intoxicated Enforcement, there will be several Corpus Christi Police Officers and Fire Fighters who will be designated to focus solely on fireworks enforcement.

It is unlawful to discharge fireworks inside the city limits. A citation for discharging fireworks inside the Corpus Christi city limits is punishable by a fine of up to $500 dollars. It is also unlawful to possess opened packages of fireworks and the punishment is a fine of up to $2,000 dollars per package.

Officers will also be on the lookout for celebratory gunfire. Discharging a firearm inside the city limits is punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine if no person is injured. The penalty increases if a person is injured by any gunfire.

Anyone who wants to report fireworks violations should call the Corpus Christi Police at the designated phone line, 886-COPS (2677). Anyone who wants to report any gunfire should call the emergency line, 911.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division

Woman Robs Local Credit Union

Date:  December 19, 2013, 4:04pm
Location: 2140 Gollihar Road http://goo.gl/maps/Gra3j
Event: Aggravated Robbery
Case Number: 1312190103

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The Corpus Christi Police Department is asking the public’s assistance to help identify and locate a woman who robbed the Corpus Christi City Employees Credit Union.  Police were told a heavyset woman walked into the bank and handed the teller a note; demanding money.  The suspect was given an undetermined amount of money.

The suspect is described as a heavyset White woman,  40 to 50 years of age,   She was last seen wearing a blue warm-up top, black sweatpants, black shoes, and possibly wearing a dark Red or Auburn wig.  She was also wearing white framed sunglasses.

Anyone who knows any additional information about this crime should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2841.   Information about unsolved crimes may be provided to detectives anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Community Outreach, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Intoxicated Assault Warrant Issued for Local Man

Occurred on Date: Thursday, December 05, 2013, 2:10am
Location: Saratoga Boulevard at Staples Street http://goo.gl/maps/pOaEp
Offense: Intoxicated Assault 
Case Number: 1312050015

Zalen Martin Ellison
Zalen Martin Ellison

A 30-year-old man was seriously injured Thursday, December 5, 2013 in a two vehicle accident.  Corpus Christi Police Crash Investigators believe a white GMC Acadia driven by 21-year-old Zalen Martin Ellison entered the intersection when a red light was displayed and struck a green Toyota Prius (Green n Go taxi) driven by the 30-year-old man.

The Acadia and the Prius were only occupied by the drivers. The force of the impact caused the Prius to strike a black 2006 Nissan Altima occupied by five people.

The 30-year-old man was taken to Spohn Memorial with what Officers believe were serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Ellison was also taken to Spohn Memorial with non-life threatening injuries. The five occupants of the Altima did not report any injuries. Both drivers were admitted to the hospital due to their injuries.

Crash Investigators believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor in this crash and continued to investigate. On December 19, 2013, the Traffic and Safety Division secured a felony arrest warrant for Zalen M. Ellison(03/25/92).  He is wanted for Intoxicated Assault with a Vehicle Causing Severe Bodily Injury.  His Bond is set at $50,000. 

Anyone with any information on Ellison’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com.  Tipsters will earn a cash reward if the suspect is found and arrested.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Stripes Robbery Suspects Identity Sought

Occurred on Date:  December 7, 2013, 5:12am
Location: 6901 S. Padre Island Drive http://goo.gl/maps/ApQI8
Event:  Aggravated Robbery
Case Number:  1312070028

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Corpus Christi Police Department Robbery Detectives are asking the public’s assistance to help identify a robbery suspect.  On Saturday, December 07, 2013,  a store clerk reported being robbed at gunpoint.  She told Officers two men walked into the store, pointed a gun at her and took the money from a couple of registers.  The suspects fled with an undetermined amount of money and were last seen fleeing into the Armon Bay Apartment Complex.

The first suspect is described as a thin Hispanic male, 25 to 30 years of age, standing 5’3″ to 5’7″ feet tall, and weighing 140 to 160 lbs.  He was wearing a red hoodie with a white shirt covering his face, blue jeans, and gloves. 

The second suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 5’5″ to 5’9″ and weighing 160 to 180 lbs.  He was wearing a black hoodie and a white shirt or cloth over his face, blue jean shorts, and gloves.

Anyone who knows any additional information about this crime should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2841.   Information about unsolved crimes may be provided to investigators anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Photos of Robbery Suspect Released

Occurred on Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2013, 00:57
Location: 4126 Staples Street http://goo.gl/maps/O7E1W
Event:  Aggravated Robbery
Case Number: 1312110005

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Corpus Christi Police Department Robbery Detectives are asking the public’s assistance to help identify a robbery suspect.  On Wednesday, December 11, 2013,  a 23-year-old man reported a robbery at a local fast food restaurant.  He told Officers a man walked into the restaurant and held him up at gunpoint; demanding money from the register.  The suspect left with an undetermined amount and ran to the apartment complex located at 802 Berry Street.

The suspect is described as wearing a red shirt underneath a dark blue sweat shirt with a hood, black warm-up pants with a white stripe on the outside of each leg, black tennis shoes, black and white gloves, and his face was covered with a mask.

Anyone who knows any additional information about this crime should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2841.   Information about unsolved crimes may be provided to investigators anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Community Outreach

REACH FOR THE STARRS!!

Wouldn’t you want to be helped if you were in need??
If yes, then let’s pay it forward and REACH FOR THE STARRS!!

Pave Diamond Ring donated by Denny Bales Diamonds for Starrs fundraiser. Ring valued at $11,200
Pave Diamond Ring donated by Denny Bales Diamonds for Starrs fundraiser. Ring valued at $11,200

Join us in lending a helping hand to Ken and Karen Starrs whose house burned down in January of this year.

Karen was seriously burned when she reentered the house in order to rescue their two cats.  Both cats and dogs made it out alive; unfortunately, their beloved bird did not.

Ken and Karen both joined the City of Corpus Christi Police Department in August of 1977.  Captain Starrs retired in January 2004 and Karen, a Crime Prevention Specialist retired in January 2003.

Denny Bales, owner of Denny Bales Diamonds is donating an 18k White Gold custom-made Ladies’ Ring featuring 4.3 Carats in Pave set diamonds with a retail value of $11,200.

This ring can be yours by participating in the fundraising raffle benefitting Ken and Karen Starrs.  The ring will be raffled on Friday, December 20th at 4:00pm.  Our objective is to sell 1000 tickets at $25 for each ticket.  Whenever possible, we would like to sell the tickets in blocks of 10 and as a thank you, you will receive two free raffle tickets.

Tickets may be purchased at Denny Bales Diamonds, 7009 S. Staples Street (361-371-2975) and the Gulf Coast Humane Society, 3118 Cabaniss Parkway (361-225-0845) until Thursday, December 19th at 4:00pm.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Corpus Christi Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

Contributed by USATXS-Public Affairs Attorney Angela Dodge:

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Rex D. McBride, 44, has been ordered to prison for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. McBride pleaded guilty Sept. 18, 2013.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey considered the seriousness of the crime and sentenced McBride to a total of 63 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.

On Nov. 12, 2012, Corpus Christi Police Department – Internet Crimes Against Children (CCPD-ICAC) detectives were conducting an undercover investigation into persons trading child pornography on the Gnutella network. At that time, detectives identified an online user, later identified as McBride, who was offering child pornography for distribution. On three occasions in late 2012, detectives successfully downloaded child pornography from McBride.

On March 20, 2013, a search warrant was executed, during which McBride admitted to downloading and viewing child pornography on the Internet through file sharing software. A forensic evaluation of McBride’s computer led to the discovery of nearly 1500 images of child pornography.

Homeland Security Investigations and CCPD-ICAC investigated.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lance Duke, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visitwww.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visitwww.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Adam District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

CVS Burglary Suspect’s Identity Sought

Date: December 5, 2013, 01:12am
Location: 4101 Hwy 77 http://goo.gl/maps/0PSuw
Event:: Burglary of a Building
Case Number:  1312050012

Corpus Christi Property Crimes Detectives are asking the public’s assistance to help identify the suspect  caught on surveillance video burglarizing the CVS Pharmacy at 4101 Hwy 77.  The suspect can be seen breaking the glass entry door to access the store.  The suspect then breaks into the pharmacy area and takes over $3,600 in pills.  The damage is estimated at $3,000.

Clips of the surveillance video has been uploaded to CorpusChristiPD YouTube account at http://youtu.be/BsopJpWd8IY.

The suspect was wearing a gray sweat suit with a black hoodie and a black hat.  A white cloth can be seen covering the suspect’s face.

Anyone with any information on this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com. Tipster will earn a cash reward if the suspect is identified and arrested.

Community Outreach

Patrol Report December 13, 2013

“Bravo and Charlie” Districts

Date: Friday, December 13, 2013, 11:34pm

Location: 5600 Curtis Clark at 5400 S. Staples  http://goo.gl/maps/AkHNf

Offenses: Driving While intoxicated (P.C. 49.04), Evading Arrest (P.C. 38.04) and Criminal Mischief (P.C. 28.03)

Case Numbers: 1312130182, 1312140001

On December 13, 2013 off duty officers from another jurisdiction were following a vehicle that appeared to have an intoxicated driver. The suspect vehicle stopped in the area of 2000 Treyway. CCPD officers attempted to make contact with the driver. The suspect driver got back into his vehicle and fled the scene. Officers attempted to catch up to the driver who was driving erratically. The suspect drove through a park, striking a fence and began dragging about 100′ of chain link fence behind his vehicle . A CCPD supervisor called off the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued until it was involved in a three car accident at Curtis Clark and South Staples. The suspect was ejected from his vehicle. The suspect and a accident victim were transported to area hospitals. Their condition is unknown at this time. If the suspect, who is a 24 year old male, is released from the hospital he will be booked into CDC. The incident is still being investigated by Follow Up Investigators at this time.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Narcotics/Vice Division

Search Warrants Served on Two Sabinas Street Homes

Date: December 12, 2013, 5:20pm
Location:  2913 Sabinas Street
Event:  Search Warrant
Case Number:  1312120103/1312100021


Narcotics/Vice Investigations Division officers, Gang Unit Officers and the S.W.A.T. team assisted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the serving of a search warrant at 2913 Sabinas Street.

A search of the home netted a seizure of $5,937 cash,   4.82 grams of black tar Heroin with a value of $482.00, .98 grams of powder Heroin with a street value of $50, and 5 grams of synthetic Marijuana with a street value of $50.00.

A 27-year-old man was arrested by  the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Tyler Matthew Haas (12/21/90) along with Charles Lee Slade Jr. (11/12/81)  and Christine Gustin Hailey (05/24/89) were also arrested.  Haas was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Slade and Hailey who arrived  in a stolen vehicle to purchase some Heroin were  charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.  The charges are State Jail Felonies punishable by up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Date:  December 12, 2013, 6:24pm
Location:  2933 Sabinas Street
Event:  Search Warrant
Case Number:  1312120115

Jeremy Juan Velasquez
Jeremy Juan Velasquez

Narcotics Vice Investigations Division Officers served a search warrant at 2933 Sabinas. A search of the residence netted a seizure of 16 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $800.00. Officers also seized $864.00 cash.

Jeremy Juan Velasquez (01/14/92) was present at the residence and arrested.  He was charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance which is a First Degree Felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.