Category Archives: Community Outreach

Police Release Sketch of Suspect in Attempted Sexual Assaults

Corpus Christi Police Composite Sketch of the Sexual Assault suspect.
Corpus Christi Police Composite Sketch of the Sexual Assault suspect.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to caution the community after two separate attempted sexual assaults occurred within 24 hours of one another.

On September 28, 2013 at 04:48am, a 19-year-old woman was assaulted in the 4200 block of Ocean as she exited her vehicle. The woman told Officers a man approached her and attempted to sexually assault her.  The woman fought off the suspect and pepper sprayed him.

On September 29, 2013 at 4:58am, a second 19-year-old woman was leaving Cole Park when she was flagged down by a man in red pick-up truck.  He warned her there was something wrong with her vehicle.  The woman pulled over in the 2400 block of Alameda and exited her vehicle.  The man attacked the victim in an attempt to sexually assault her.  The woman also fought back using her keys to stab at him.  The man fled.

The suspect in the first attack is described as a Hispanic man, 30 to 40 years of age, standing 5’8” to 5’9” feet tall and weighing 240 to 280 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a navy blue shirt and shorts. Corpus Christi Police Detectives have worked with the victims to construct a composite sketch of the suspect.

The suspect in the second attack is described only as a heavyset Hispanic man in his 50’s.  He was driving a red pick-up.

Police believe there is a good possibility that both assaults were perpetrated by the same suspect and he is targeting young women who are out alone in the early morning hours.

The Police Department has asked Officers to be extra vigilant while patrolling the areas near Ocean Drive and throughout the city.

The Police Department recommends that all young women avoid dangerous situations and be aware of their surroundings.   Don’t walk or jog alone, invite a friend or two to accompany you.  Make sure your car is in good working order and keep your doors locked as you travel.  Keep your cell phone charged at all times.

If flagged down by a stranded motorist , don’t stop, but drive on and  notify the Police Department at 361-886-2600 when it is safe to do so.

But above all, trust your instincts.  If you feel a situation is unsafe, it is.

If you would like additional safety information, please contact our Crime Prevention Advisor at 361-886-2568. The Corpus Christi Police Department held a town hall meeting to address concerns. The meeting was video recorded and may be viewed online at http://new.livestream.com/accounts/5190505/events/2444839.

Anyone with any information on these crimes 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 arrested.

Third Annual Dove Hunt to Benefit the Police Athletic League is Saturday

The 3rd Annual CCPAL/Valero Dove hunt is this Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Lonesome Dove Ranch in an effort to raise money for the Corpus Christi Police Athletic League.

The Corpus Christi Police Athletic League offers recreational and athletic activities for at-risk youth in the community. The Police Athletic League began in Corpus Christi 10 years ago with 250 children and has now grown to 2,500 – 2,700 children ages 3-18 who are enrolled in the Corpus Christi Police Athletic League today.

The Police Athletic League is operated by volunteers, coaches, and support from community partners to provide positive role models and a family friendly environment for kids to participate in tee ball, basketball, baseball, volleyball, martial arts, softball all in a safe, fun, and encouraging atmosphere. Beyond the sports part, kids are learning life skills that will benefit them for years to come.

The Police Athletic League is always looking for volunteers and donations to the program. No child is turned away from CCPAL because of their income status.  The Police Athletic League is 100 % funded by contributions from companies, individuals, and foundations.  The City of Corpus Christi and Police Department have been very good to the program providing land for baseball fields and police volunteers, but don’t receive any funds from the Police Department. The Police Athletic League relies on the public to support the Corpus Christi Police Athletic League.

Valero will host the Third Annual Dove Hunt to benefit the Corpus Christi Police Athletic League on Saturday, October 5 at the Lonesome Dove Ranch from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Tickets and sponsorships for the event are available to the public and range from $100 to $5,000 dollars. The event includes all food and beverages, dove hunting, skeet/trap shooting. For more ticket information, contact Patsy Benchoff at Valero at 361.289.3104.

The Corpus Christi Police Athletic League would like to build a new boxing gym and support current programs with the money raised from the hunt.

’65 Chevrolet Truck to be Auctioned on Saturday

Looking for a fixer upper?
Looking for a fixer upper?

On Saturday, October  5, 2013, a total of 125 cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be auctioned at the Corpus Christi Police Department Vehicle Impound Lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive during our monthly auction. The site has four paved acres for an auction lot.

Approximately 42 of these vehicles are “No Insurance” impounds. On Friday, October 4, 2013, the general public will be allowed to register and view the vehicles to be auctioned from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no registration fee.

On the day of the auction, the general public can continue to register and view the vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The auction will commence promptly at 10:00 a.m. on October 4, 2013.   The vehicles to be auctioned can be viewed at www.siskauction.com. An auction list may also be downloaded from the same website.

The department’s strong stand and enforcement of this “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative” will continue and all vehicles involved in accidents will be impounded and the driver cited if they are unable to provide financial proof of insurance. Driver’s license and proof of financial responsibility checkpoints will continue to be conducted at the Shift Captains’ authorization.

During September 2013, Officers issued 554 citations for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and impounded 100 vehicles for the same charge.

Identity of Thief Sought

Corpus Christi Police Detectives are asking the public’s assistance to help identify a suspect responsible for the theft of approximately $700 in store merchandise from Altex Computers and Electronics.

Store surveillance video shows a young White male entering the store, selects a  and exits the business without paying for the item.

He is described as a White male, 20 to 25 years old, 5’11” feet tall, and weighing 160 lbs.  He is wearing blue jeans and a striped shirt.

Video of the suspect has been uploaded to “CorpusChristiPD” You Tube website at http://youtu.be/I9qjG0nw2hY and http://youtu.be/coha0QyYOOQ.

 Anyone with any information on the identity of this suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS.  You can also submit a tip online at http://www.888TIPS.com.  Callers will earn a cash reward if the suspect is identified and arrested.

Town Hall Meeting to be held Oct 3rd

There will be a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday October 3rd at 6:00 PM at the Lindale Senior Center 3135 Swantner Drive. 

The topic of discussion will be the recent attacks on women  along Ocean Drive.  Police Chief Floyd Simpson will be present, along with members of his Command Staff to discuss the attacks, as well as to offer prevention and safety tips.

October is Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month

October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, and that means it’s time to pay tribute to all things canine and get more homeless pups into forever homes. To get the party started, CCACS has reduced dog adoption fees for the entire month of October to $10. This includes vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchip and city registration.

The observation of Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month brings attention to the plight of homeless animals in every community and the unfortunate fact that only 20 to 30 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescue groups. There are 3 to 4 million dogs living in shelters nationwide who dream of being a valued addition to someone’s family, all they need is a second chance.

CCACS encourages the community to adopt a pet or sponsor the adoption fees of a homeless animal. When you sponsor a pet, we will place a card on the animal’s kennel with the sponsor’s name on it.

 For additional information contact Corpus Christi Animal Care Services at 361-826-4602.

City Responds to Recent Mosquito Outbreak

Due to the recent heavy rains, City of Corpus Christi Vector Control personnel are being inundated with requests from throughout the city for pest mosquito adulticide spraying.  Vector employees are responsible for a number of other key tasks besides mosquito spraying: from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM they are responsible for pesticide treatment of all city buildings, collecting and processing mosquitoes from the various traps throughout the city, and swarming bee eradication.

Vector Control can only spray for mosquitoes when it is not raining and the wind speed is low.   The pesticide dissipates quickly when it comes in contact with the ground, especially if there is any dew.  Even then, the fogger only kills the mosquitoes that are airborne at the time of the spraying, so it is not effective for any great period of time. Since the fog only kills the airborne mosquitoes, spraying only occurs during evening hours, usually between 7:00 PM and Midnight.  It is estimated that the fog only kills one third of the total mosquito population. The three Vector employees have been working 12 to 14 hour days seven days a week for over the past two weeks to try to keep up with this demand.

The areas of the city to be sprayed are determined by the number of mosquitoes found in any of eight traps spread throughout the city.  Vector Control Officers will spray the routes surrounding any trap that exceeds 50 mosquitoes.  The routes to be sprayed are determined by the number of mosquitoes caught in traps, not by the number of complaints coming into the city call center.  Currently all traps in the city are exceeding the 50 mosquito threshold, so Vector Officers are conducting a patterned approach to spraying across the entire city.  The routes to be sprayed are posted on the City Website daily under the Health Department Vector Control page: http://archive.cctexas.com/Health/MosquitoSchedule/MosquitoSchedSearch.cfm

Vector Control is asking for the public’s patience as they work to reduce the recent increase in pest mosquitoes.  As always, citizens are encouraged to take the following precautions to avoid being bitten:

  • Use  an approved insect repellent every time you go outside and follow the instructions on the label. Approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
  • Regularly  drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires,     buckets, clogged rain gutters and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes  breed in stagnant water.
  • Wear  long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Use air conditioning or make sure there are screens on all doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home.

Animal Care Services Wins $30,000

Rachael RayThe Corpus Christi Animal Care Services Division is proud to announce that they have placed second in their Division in the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100,000 challenge. In addition to placing second in Division four, CCACSD placed fifth in the country, earning the “Most Improved Player “award. On Monday Animal Care Services was presented with a check in the amount of $30,000 from the ASPCA for their accomplishments. Animal Care Services will use the prize money to expand our Targeted Spay/Neuter Program and provide humane housing for cats at the Animal Shelter.

The 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge was a nationwide competition for animal shelters (and their communities) aimed at getting more animals adopted or returned to their owners than ever before. Corpus Christi Animal Care Services competed against nine other similarly sized animal shelters nationwide in our division and 49 shelters overall. The shelter that demonstrated the largest increase of live release (return to owner and adoptions) during the months of June, July and August in comparison to 2012, earned $100,000 from the ASPCA. In placing second, Corpus Christi Animal Care Services saved 858 dogs and cats during the three month period, an increase of 553 lives saved over 2012! The ASPCA reports that nationwide 56,379 lives were saved—an increase of 12,050 over last year.

Corpus Christi Animal Care Services worked closely with People Assisting Animal Control to win this award. PAAC is a non-profit organization that assists Animal Care Services and promotes responsible pet ownership and adoption. Without the hard work and dedication of staff and PAAC volunteers, this award would not have been possible. CCACS and PAAC wish to thank all the volunteers, donors, and sponsors who contributed tremendously to the success of this competition. Most of all, we thank those in the community who saved the life of a needy dog or cat through adoption.

Detectives Issue Warrant after Crime Stoppers Tip Identifies Woman

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2013, 15:00

Location: 5488 South Padre Island Drive http://goo.gl/maps/bHOCr

Offense: Credit Card Abuse (Penal Code Section 32.31)

Case number: 1309180032

The Corpus Christi Police Department Property Crimes Detectives have issued a warrant for the arrest of a 44-year-old woman for credit card abuse after the woman was identified by a Crime Stoppers tip.

An 86-year-old woman reported to the Corpus Christi Police that her purse was taken without permission on Saturday, September 14, at a grocery store while she shopped. The 86-year-old woman said a person followed her and made small talk until the 86-year-old woman turned her back on the basket and purse while she got an item out of the freezer in the frozen food section. The 86-year-old woman said when turned back to the cart, the purse and the person who made small talk were gone. Corpus Christi Police Department Detectives discovered the credit cards taken from the 86-year-old woman were used at 5488 South Padre Island Drive after the cards were reported stolen.

A Crime Stoppers tip helped provide Detectives with information needed to identify 44-year-old Melissa Carmona (12/23/1968) as the person who unlawfully used the credit cards on September 14. Carmona is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighs about 140 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes and has a tattoo on her upper left arm and left wrist. Anyone who knows how to locate Carmona should call the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2600.

Search the website Crimereports.com to research all reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi. Anyone who knows any additional information about unsolved crimes 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 888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Corpus Christi Police Seek to apprehend 44 year old Melissa Carmona (12/23/1968)
Corpus Christi Police Seek to apprehend 44 year old Melissa Carmona (12/23/1968)

National Night Out to be Celebrated Oct 1st

National Night Out

The Corpus Christi Police Department will be celebrating National Night Out on October 1, 2013 from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the city.  Chief  Floyd Simpson and all command staff will be attending National Night Out events in your neighborhoods.   At 3:30 pm, we will be kicking off National Night Out at Sam’s Club located at 4949 Greenwood Drive. The community is invited to attend.  Please join us and meet our new Mounted Patrol Officers.

National Night Out is a unique crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Neighborhood on Watch groups will join forces with thousands of other communities all over Texas to: heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participate in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighbors are organized to fight crime through community awareness.

The following is a list of locations in which National Night Out events are being held in your neighborhoods:

                   ADAM DISTRICT    
Alaniz Garden Apartments 3801 Violet Rd 4 pm to 7 pm
Casa De Manana Apartments> 4702 Old Brownsville Rd 6 pm to 8 pm
Churchhill Square Apartments 4302 Western 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Lantana Square> 5802 Academy 6 pm to 8 pm
Oak Park Rec Center 842 Erwin 3 pm to 7 pm
Sea Breeze Senior Center 809 Derry 4 pm to 7 pm
Buena Vida Senior Village 4650 Old Brownsville Rd 5 pm to 7 pm
Costa Tarragona 2240 N. Padre Island 6 pm to 8 pm
Villa Northwest 2822 Robby St 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
The Rafters 11325 IH37 6 pm to 7 pm
Senior Officer Prieto Park (Woodland Creek) Senior Officer Prieto Park (Woodland Creek) 6 pm to 7 pm
     
            BRAVO DISTRICT    
Hampton Port Apartments 6130 Woolridge 5 pm to 7 pm
Oso Recreation Center 1111 Bernice 3 pm to 7 pm
John Valls (councilman) St. Dennis & Annemasse (St. Dennis park) 6 pm to 8 pm
Garden Estates 2709 Cimarron 6 pm to 7 pm
Gulfbreeze Apartments 6533 Patti 6 pm to 8 pm
Camden Southbay 1701 Ennis Joslin 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Treyway Terrace 2022 Treyway 4 pm to 6 pm
Carriage Park Townhomes 7202 McArdle (gazebo) 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Coral Cay 1243 Nile 6 pm to 7 pm
Sugartree Apts 8050 SPID 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Homewood at CC 6410 Meadowvista Drive 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Garden Senior Center 5325 Greely Drive 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Gulfway Manor 1750 Treyway Circle 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
     
           CHARLIE DISTRICT    
Kostoryz Elementary 3602 Panama 5 pm to 7 pm
Garcia Elementary 1945 Gollihar 5:30 pm to 7 pm
Walnut Ridge Apts 5757 S. Staples 4 pm to 6 pm
Willowick Apts 6947 Everhart Rd 5 pm to 7 pm
Holly Park Apartments 3338 Holly Rd 6 pm to 8 pm
Lexington Manor 3126 Ray Ellison 6 pm to 8 pm
Ruth Mary Price Place 4117 Gollihar Rd 5 pm to 7 pm
Samual Place Apartments 4315 Carroll Lane 5:30 pm to 8 pm
Parkway Homes 2814 Houston 5:30 pm to 7 pm
Leeward Homes 2800 Sacky Drive 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Unity by the Sea Church 901 Brawner Parkway 5 pm to 8 pm
Camden Breakers Apartments 4901 Saratoga 5 pm to 6 pm
Harbor Place Retirement 5518 Lipes 6 pm to 7 pm
The Colony 1041 Dabney St/Lee St 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Waterford Apartments 3802 Caravelle Parkway 7 pm to 9pm
Stoneleigh Apartments 5750 Curtis Clark 6 pm to 8 pm
         DELTA DISTRICT    
George Evans 1315 Comanche 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Boys and Girls club / Fighting to Rid Gangs 3902 Greenwood 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Claire Laine Apartments 1435 Sulaine 5 pm to 7 pm
Joe Garza Rec Center 3204 Highland 3 pm to 7 pm
La Armada Rec Center 1455 Southgate 5 pm to 7 pm
DN Leathers 1001 Coke 4 pm to 6 pm
Navarro Place 160 19th Street 4 pm to 7 pm
Wiggins Place 2320 Buford Ave 4 pm to 6 pm
La Armada III 1404 Tompkins 4 pm to 6:30 pm
Alameda Oaks 1101 S. Alameda 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Menger Elementary 2401 S. Alameda 6 pm to 8 pm
Corban Townhomes 1455 Corban 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Elliott Grant Homes 901 N. Alameda 5 pm to 7 pm
Solomon Cole Gym 924 Winnebago 3 pm to 7 pm
Northside Manor 1401 N. Alameda 6 pm to 8 pm
Trinity Towers 101 N. Upper Broadway (1st floor) 5 pm to 6:30 pm
John Mares (CCISD board member) Lindale Park 6 pm to 8 pm

Be a part of National Night Out and turn your lights on for Texas’s Night Out Against Crime!