Continuing their initiative to eliminate illegal gambling within the Corpus Christi city limits, detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division served simultaneous search warrants Thursday afternoon at a storefront business and a related residence on the city’s south side. Following a months-long investigation into the business that uncovered evidence of illegal gambling, detectives secured search warrants for the Player’s Lounge game room, located in a strip mall on the 3400 block of SPID, and the residence on the 8200 block of Olympic Drive. During the searches, detectives seized gambling equipment, over $85,000 cash, one vehicle, and a small quantity of marijuana. Brandon Roe, age 23, Mallory Villarreal, age 30, and Jillian Dunnahoo, age 22 were arrested and charged with gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place, possession of a gambling device, engaging in organized criminal activity, and money laundering. Engaging in organized criminal activity and money laundering are both state jail felonies, punishable by up to two years in jail and a maximum $10,000 fine, while the other three charges are class A misdemeanors. Five adult patrons inside the game room were cited for gambling, a class C misdemeanor.

This investigation continues, and additional charges and arrests are possible. The Corpus Christi Police Department reminds citizens that game rooms which pay out cash rewards are engaging in illegal gambling. Patrons as well as the management of these establishments may face criminal charges.

NVID Detectives were assisted in the operation by officers with the CCPD Traffic Unit and investigators with the State of Texas Comptroller’s Office, which regulates coin operated machines.

The Corpus Christi Police Department continues to collaborate with our local state and federal partners to investigate and combat illegal gambling. Investigators will continue to enforce all Texas gambling laws, which will help accomplish our mission to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and to improve the quality of life in our community.

68A inspections for Tuesday, January 16, 2024, is cancelled due to expected inclement weather.

UPDATE: THE PRACTICE PHYSICAL FITNESS HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO POTENTIAL INCLEMENT WEATHER

PRACTICE PHYSICAL FITNESS

You are invited to attend the Corpus Christi Police Department Practice Physical Assessment Test (PAT) on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. for our upcoming CCPD 84th Police Academy projected to begin July 2024. The practice test will take place at the main police station (321 John Sartain, Corpus Christi, TX 78401). Applicants will meet us at the gated entrance directly across from Whataburger on the Bay (Water St. side of the building). Check-in time will be between 7:00 am – 7:30 am, so we can start promptly at 7:30 am.

On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 10:08am, officers were made aware of a social media post that appeared to make threats of violence toward the students and staff at a local middle school. Investigators with CCPD, CCISD and federal authorities immediately launched an investigation to determine the validity of these threats as well as to identify the suspect or suspects involved.

Corpus Christi Independent School District’s Police Department has arrested a 12-year-old juvenile female for terroristic threats. The juvenile has been transported to the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center for booking.

The safety and security of our citizens is our highest priority, and we take all threats made toward our campuses, students, and staff seriously. 

If you have any information about threats made to any school, you are urged to contact investigators at 361-886-2840.  If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (361) 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=.  The information you provide to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 9:41am, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of 19^th Street in reference to a robbery in progress. 

Officers arrived and spoke to the 55-year-old male victim who stated he was parked at the location when three Hispanic males in their late teens approached him. The victim stated one male was wearing a black hoodie and another male was wearing a grey hoodie (unknown description of the third male). The victim stated the males pointed a handgun at him and ordered him out of the vehicle. The victim stated the males got into his vehicle and left the scene. The victim was uninjured. 

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 1:28pm, officers located the stolen vehicle at the 2200 block of Ruth Street and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Two Hispanic male occupants exited the vehicle and ran on foot from officers. Officers were able to place one of the males into custody. A perimeter was set up and a drone was utilized; however, the other male occupant remains at-large. 

17-year-old Diego Rodriguez was arrested for evading arrest and unauthorized use of motor vehicle.  

This is an active and ongoing investigation. 

If you have any additional information about this incident, please call detectives at 361-886-2840, or if you would like to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS. 

Date: January 1, 2024
Time: 1:00 am
Location: 4200 McArdle Road
Offense: Murder

UPDATE: January 2, 2024, 11:15am

On Monday, January 1, 2024, at 1:00am, officers were dispatched to the 4200 block of McArdle Road in reference to a major traffic accident involving a pedestrian.

Officers arrived and began life-saving measures until medics arrived and transported a 54-year-old Hispanic male to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division continued their investigation, speaking with numerous witnesses. The investigation has led to find that there was an additional 44-year-old Hispanic male victim that was struck by the vehicle. The investigation also led to probable cause to believe that the actions leading to the death of the 54-year-old male was not an accident.

Jason Guajardo was arrested for murder ($1,000,000 bond) on Monday, January 1, 2024, and was transported to the City Detention Center for booking.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

If you have any additional information about this incident, please call detectives at 361-886-2840, or if you would like to be anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=

Date: Saturday, January 6, 2024
Time: 10:00 am (gates open at 8:00 am)
Location: 5485 Greenwood

ON SITE AUCTION SALE AND LIVE ONLINE (WEBCAST)

REGISTRATION: visit https://siskauction.hibid.com/ to register and obtain further on-line auction instructions.

VIEWING: Friday, January 5, 2024, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Everyone must be registered and have a bidder number to enter the auction.

No purses or backpacks allowed in the auction area.

ABSOLUTELY no one under 18 allowed throughout the entire auction. This includes viewing day, during the auction and while picking up auction vehicles.

70 Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, and Boat Trailer

UPDATE: ATTF will not be holding 68A inspections on January 2nd.

Friday, December 15th will mark the 38th anniversary of the day Gary and Stephanie Gillette were found brutally murdered inside their home on the 4800 block of Sweetbriar Circle. 

Gary’s prized possession, his late father’s 1970 Buick Electra convertible, had been stolen from the couple’s garage and was found abandoned one day later on the 6200 block of Wimbledon Drive.  Gary’s three daughters have never stopped looking for answers to help ease the devastating pain of not knowing who took their father and stepmother, and essentially their childhood, from them. 

Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide Detectives have made significant strides toward identifying the suspect or suspects who committed this heinous crime, but are still seeking the one sliver of information that will help bring justice to the victims and closure to their family.  

If you have information that you believe could be helpful to solving this case, please call Detective Justin Wicks at 361-826-4082 or Detective Krystal Rodriguez at 361-886-2843.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous can earn up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case by calling CrimeStoppers at 361-888-TIPS.  For more information, please view the following video.

The Corpus Christi Police Department is actively working with local schools and our federal partners regarding threats made to schools across the State of Texas.

Thus far, all received threats have proved to be false, and do not appear to be from a local source.

The safety and security of our citizens and students is our highest priority, and we will continue to take all threats made toward our campuses, students, and staff seriously.

If you have any information, please contact CCPD at 911 or 361-886-2600.