Category Archives: Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Accept the Challenge! Join Corpus Christi Police as they Host Applicant Fitness Workshops

 

The Corpus Christi Police Department will continue to host Applicant Physical Fitness Preparation Workshops from July 18th through August 9, 2012. The workshops will be 2 hours in duration every Wednesday and Thursday evening at 5 pm and four hours on Saturday morning beginning at 9 am. The workshops will allow prospective applicants to run the actual physical fitness test to assess individual needs for improvement.

The Corpus Christi Police Department’s Training Staff will answer questions and provide information to all prospective applicants about how to prepare for the physical fitness test. It is the responsibility of each individual to utilize the information to train themselves to achieve the best possible score on the day of the test.

The workshops will be held at the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Training Center located at 4510 Corona Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78411

The workshop dates are as follows:

  • Wednesday, July 18, 2012 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 19, 2012 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Saturday July 21, 2012 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Wednesday July 25, 2012 5 p.m.-7p.m.
  • Thursday, July 26, 2012 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Saturday July 28, 2012 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Wednesday August 1, 2012 5 p.m.-7p.m.
  • Thursday, August 2, 2012 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Saturday August 4, 2012 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Wednesday August 8, 2012 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 9, 2012 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

NO WALK-INS YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND!

To register you can call or e-mail:

Maryann Carrillo
Senior Staff Assistant, Training Division
(361) 826-4071

Sgt. Travis Pace
Defensive Tactics Coordinator, Training Division
Travisp@cctexas.com

Anyone interested in a career in the Corpus Christi Police Department are encouraged to send an email of interest to CCPDRecruiter@cctexas.com.

Charlie District, Community Outreach

Man Arrested In Connection with Passing Counterfeit $100 Bills, Two Others Sought

Hector Arthur Ruiz

Occurred on 7/8/12, 3:30 pm   Forgery     5400 SPID Moore Plaza     1207080090/1207080097/1207080100/1207080106/1207080113 

Officers responded to World Market at Moore Plaza for counterfeit money being used.   Upon their arrival, Officers located the unoccupied suspect vehicle in the Marshall’s parking lot.  Officers set up on the vehicle and waited for the suspects.  Shortly thereafter, Hector Ruiz (08/13/1985) was seen driving away in the vehicle and pulled him over.

Further investigation revealed, Ruiz along with his two accomplices were involved in passing forged $100 bills to several stores in the Moore Plaza shopping center.  Officers were able to confirm World Market, Rue 21, Kirkland’s, Pets Mart, and Bed, Bath and Beyond were victims of the counterfeiters.  Several other business in the shopping center have been contacted as possible victims.

Ruiz was arrested and charged with five counts of Forgery of a Government Instrument/Money/Securities along with Manufacture with Intent to Sell Counterfeit Instruments.  Each charge is a 3rd Degree Felony and punishable by up to 10 years and a fine up to $10,000.  During their impound inventory, Officers found a laptop, printer and scanner along with store merchandise inside the vehicle.  His two accomplices are still outstanding.  The second suspect is described as a Hispanic female, 24 years of age, 5’2″ feet tall with black hair and brown eyes.  The third suspect is described as Hispanic male with designs on one side of his hair and dressed in black.

The Corpus Christi Financial Crimes Unit along with the United States Secret Service who handles counterfeit money crimes will be working closely together to conduct a thorough investigation.  They recommend you visit the Secret Service website at http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml to guard yourself against counterfeiters.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or login online and submit a tip.  Callers will earn a cash reward if the suspects are charged with a crime.

Community Outreach, Narcotics/Vice Division

10 Women Arrested for Prostitution

Rachel Ann Montoya
Valerie Ozuna
Linda Cano
Shauntel Rangel
Tymika Lashawnda Llanos
Quanisha Denise Heyward
Velma Ann Rodriguez
Cheryl Kelley
Kara Cantrell

On 06/29/12 the Corpus Christi Police Department Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division (NVID) with the assistance of Patrol Officers conducted a prostitution “Jane Sting” in the North Central region of the city.  The undercover operation aimed at curbing prostitution.  Ten women were taken into custody after agreeing to exchange sexual favors for money. 

The Narcotics/Vice Division whenever possible will enhance prostitution charges on repeat offenders as noted below.  Officers made the following arrests:  

  • Cynthia Llamas (09/15/67)~Prostitution (BM)   1206290123
  • Valerie Ozuna (08/14/75)~Prostitution (BM), Possession of Controlled Substance (SJF), Parole Warrant   1206290059
  • Shauntel Rangel (01/17/84)~Prostitution (SJF), Possession of Controlled Substance   (3F)   1206290110 
  • Tymika Lashawnda  Llanos (08/05/76)~Prostitution (SJF), Probation Warrant   1206290064
  • Quaneisha  Denise Heyward(07/23/83)~Prostitution (BM)   1206290088 (Arrested within City Hall Initiative boundaries)
  • Linda Cano (06/29/61)~Prostitution (BM)   1206290068
  • Rachel Montoya (11/10/77)~Prostitution (AM)   1206290075
  • Velma Ann Rodriguez (12/14/64)~Prostitution (AM)   1206290106
  • Cheryl Kelley (03/02/63)~Prostitution (AM)   1206290084 (Arrested within City Hall Initiative boundaries)
  • Kara Cantrell   (05/18/81)~Prostitution (SJF)   1206290119

Prostitution is a Class “B” Misdemeanor punishable up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.   If the suspect has one or two prior convictions for Prostitution, the charge will be upgraded to a Class “A” Misdemeanor and is punishable up to  a year in jail and a $4,000.  Three or more convictions will upgrade the Prostitution charge to a State Jail Felony and is punishable by up to two years in a state jail and a $10,000 fine.

Community Outreach

City Police and Fire Gear Up for July 4th Festivities

Independence Day celebrations include cook-outs, picnics, or a day at the beach with family and friends. In an effort, to make this July 4th Holiday safe, the Corpus Christi Police Department announces the July 4th crackdown on drunk drivers by designating it a “No Refusal” holiday.  The Nueces County District Attorney’s Office will be sponsoring a trained phlebotomist beginning Tuesday, July 3rd through Saturday, July 7, 2012 to assist in the collection of blood specimens from suspected intoxicated drivers. 

If you plan to drink please designate a sober driver before the celebrating begins.  If you’ve had too much to drink, call a taxi, a sober friend or family member to get you home safe. Remember, The Choice is Yours, Drive Sober!

Zero tolerance will also be given to the celebratory discharging of firearms into the air and fireworks within the Corpus Christi city limits.  A person found guilty of discharging a firearm can serve up to a year in jail and be fined up to $4,000.  Both Corpus Christi Fire and Police are again teaming up and will be out enforcing the City’s ordinance against the use and possession of fireworks.  Fire Officers and Police Officers will monitor firework stands, and seize illegal fireworks brought into the city.  Citations will be issued to violators who can be fined up to $2,000 for each package of fireworks.  If fireworks are being set off in your neighborhood, please avoid calling 911, but do call 886-COPS. 

The City of Corpus Christi will be hosting a “July 4th Big Bang Celebration” throughout the day, with the Corpus Christi Police and Fire  Department vehicle display at the FunDay KidZone  and culminating with the H-E-B Independence Day fireworks celebration on the USS Lexington, beginning at 9:30 pm.  For further information please visit the City of Corpus Christi website at http://www.cctexas.com/july4/.

Additional Officers will be assigned throughout the city and area beaches concentrating on DWI enforcement, monitoring the traffic flow at the intersection of Zahn Road at S.H. 361, and both sides of the beach alongside the Packery Channel.  Officers will also be responding to calls and actively looking for traffic violators.  Also working in conjunction with the Police Department are several Nueces County Adult Probation Officers who will team up with Patrol Officers to facilitate the arrest of a probationer violating their probation.

All of these efforts will be focused to ensure the citizens and vacationers visiting our city and beaches this July 4th Holiday will have a safe and enjoyable experience.

The attached maps will assist in providing directions for different routes to and from the fireworks display at the USS Lexington.  Traffic Officers will be providing traffic control and they recommend that you arrive early, be patient, and obey all traffic directions.

july4maps,jhg

Bravo District, Community Outreach

Pair Arrested When Returning Stolen Purse

Occurred on 6/28/12, 1:58 pm Credit Card Abuse 14301 SPID  1206280092, 1206280129 

Officers contacted the victim who reported her Toyota Sequoia was burglarized when she left her doors unlocked.  Her purse was stolen along with several credit cards.  When she called to can her credit cards she was advised  her credit cards had been used at La Palmera Mall, Target, Wal-Mart, Stripes, and Chick-Fil-A. 

The victim contacted store employees at the Game Stop where the suspect attempted to make a purchase, but was declined.  The male signed up for the store’s e-mail notification program.  With further investigation by the victim and the Officer they were able to identify a possible suspect via Facebook and our Records Management System. 

At approximately 8:46 pm, Police were called for a disturbance over a stolen purse.  Officers contacted the victim who reported she arranged to meet with the suspect who had stolen her purse at the Whataburger on the Island, 14301 S. Padre Island Drive.  Officers located the suspects in a black Ford F150 at Ambrosia and Jackfish with the stolen purse inside.  

The four individuals in the truck were taken to the Police Station and met by Financial Crimes Detectives.  Through further investigation, it was revealed two of the individuals were responsible for the auto burglary and use of the stolen credit cards.  

Tony Wright Jr. (11/27/93) and Jonathan James Goff (11/18/91) were both arrested and charged with Burglary of a Motor Vehicle (AM) and Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse (SJF).  The Class “A” Misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and $4,000 fine, while the State Jail Felony is punishable by up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.  A 17-year-old and a 16-year-old also in the truck were released.

If you are victim of  Credit Card Abuse or Identity Theft, first, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus.  Second, contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.  Third, file a report with the Corpus Christi Police Department at 361-886-2600.

Community Outreach

Corpus Christi Police Officers Win Medals At Powerlifting Competition In Austin

Three Corpus Christi Police Officers won two gold medals and one silver medal after they participated in the Texas Police Games in Austin, Texas on June 22, 2012.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office hosted the 2012 Texas Police Games in Austin. The Texas Police Athletic Federation promotes the athletic competition through the annual Texas Police Games for the purpose to encourage physical fitness and wellness for members in the law enforcement community.

Senior Officer Jay Simmons, Officer William Hobbs, and Officer Jason Tello of the Corpus Christi Police Department participated in the powerlifting event. The powerlifting event includes weight lifting in a bench press, squat, and dead lift. The officers were separated into weight classes, age, and gender for the lifting competition. Officer Hobbs won a gold medal for the senior 220-242lbs. weight class. Officer Tello won a gold medal for the senior 181-198lbs. weight class. Senior Officer Simmons only participated in the bench press due to an injury, but won a silver medal for the 242-275lbs. weight class.

Community Outreach

Chief Simpson Meets With Members Of The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community

Chief Simpson and Detective Alvarado field questions from the group through the use of an interpreter.

On Tueday evening June 26, Chief Floyd Simpson and members of his staff attended a town hall meeting hosted by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center at 515 McArdle. Chief Simpson was the opening speaker and took the opportunity to discuss his policing philosophy and some of the department’s new initiatives. The chief introduced Ronald Sepulveda, the MetroCom manager to explain how the department currently receives 911 calls from deaf and hard of hearing citizens and communicates with them. Mr. Sepulveda also talked about what’s in the future for MetroCom such as the next generation of 911 technology that will allow the call center to receive and participate in two way communications via texts and e-mails.

CCPD Detective Eddie Alvarado also spoke to the group about how investigators might better communicate with the deaf and hard of hearing community.  Some may be surprised to know that through his own initiative, Detective Alvarado has been studying sign language and is working towards a degree in that discipline.  Through his involvement with the deaf and hard of hearing community, Detective Alvarado has positioned himself as our department liaison with this community.

Several questions were posed about the possibility of providing some additional training to officers so that they might better recognize and be able to communicate with deaf and hearing impaired individuals. Chief Simpson acknowledged that there is more that can be done to improve communications and understanding between the police and the deaf and hard of hearing community.  He extended an invitation to representatives from the center to make a presentation to the next academy class.

Anyone who would like more information on the services provide by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center can visit their web site at: http://www.deaf-hh.org/ .

Bravo District, Community Outreach

Five-Year-Old Rushed to Driscoll after Near Drowning

Occurred on 6/24/12, 5:05 pm  Drowning 8202 SPID  1206240115 

Officer T. Taufaasau responded to Motel 6 for a possible drowning and arrived to find several people surrounding a 5-year-old boy yelling for help.  The child was laying by the pool’s edge having a difficult time breathing.  The Officer took hold of the child and rolled him over allowing a large amount of water to exit his mouth.  Shortly thereafter, firefighters arrived and rushed him to the arriving ambulance. 

The child was taken to Driscoll Children’s Hospital by CCFD Emergency Personnel.  Officer Taufasssau’s reported the child was breathing on own.  The child’s mother advised Officers she was in the pool with her son when she got out.  She turned around to find her son gone and began searching for him when she was told he had also gotten out of the pool.  When she returned to the pool area she saw her floating in the water.  She dove in and was able to bring her son to the pool’s edge where bystanders helped with CPR until police arrived.

With the arrival of summer and warmer weather, the use of pools and spas will also rise.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, child drownings in pools and spas still a leading cause of unintentional death, especially with children under five years of age.   By following simple pool safety tips, the risk of a drowning can be prevented.  Fence in your pool with a self-closing, self-latching, and lockable gate.   Install an alarm which will sound when a child falls in the pool or a pool gate opened. Never let your child swim alone or only with other children.  Pay close attention to your child when swimming; don’t read, text, or do chores and make sure your child takes swimming lessons. 

If you would like to learn CPR, please contact the Red Cross at 361-887-9991 or visit their website at www.redcross.org for classes.

 

 

Community Outreach, Delta District

Cats’ Yowls Foil Burglar

Occurred on 6/22/12, 12:54 am  Burglary of a Habitation  520 S. Carancahua  1206220012 

A homeowner washing dishes heard her cats “going crazy” on her back porch was startled to see a man looking back at her when she looked out her dining room window.  She called 911 and within minutes Officers arrived to find Adrian Avalos (08/07/64) hiding in her screen in patio. 

He was also found to have entered an unlocked car behind the house and patio to gain access to the attached laundry room.  A combination of the victim’s quick actions and Officers quick arrival did not allow the suspect to steal any property.  Avalos was arrested and charged with Burglary of a Habitation which is a 2nd Degree Felony and punishable by up to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000. 

The Corpus Christi Police Department offers free home and business security surveys to make your home or business safer.  Home inspections can also put money in your pocket by reducing your insurance premiums.  Please contact Crime Prevention Specialist Brenda Moreno at 361-886-2765 to schedule your free survey.

Community Outreach, Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Enhanced Parking Initative Begins

The Corpus Christi Police Department is announcing the beginning of the enhanced parking enforcement initiative.  The goal of the initiative is to address often overlooked “quality of life” issues such as public sidewalks being blocked by vehicles, and other parking violations throughout the city. The initial phase of the initiative will focus on public education about parking laws and the importance of ensuring that roadways and sidewalks are open and accessible to vehicles, pedestrians, and emergency equipment. Officers will immediately begin issuing warning cards to vehicles parked in an improper manner.

The next phase will begin August 1st and will focus on actual enforcement of existing parking laws and ordinances.  Police and Parking Control officers will be issuing citations to vehicles parked in a manner that is a violation or hazard.

Questions should be directed to Parking Control at 361-826-3003.