Category Archives: Criminal Investigations Division

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Robbery Victim Dies, Three Arrested

Jazmyn Monique De Los Santos
Alfonso Garcia
Gabriel Grande Jr.

Reported on 8/7/12, 11:55 pm  Aggravated Robbery  4100 Shaw Street   1208060186

On 8/6/12, at approximately 8:59 p.m. police were called to Spohn Shoreline for an assault victim and contacted the victim’s son who reported his father had been brought to the hospital on Friday and admitted as a “John Doe.”

Further investigation revealed the victim had been brought to the hospital by CCFD Emergency Personnel who responded to a “man down” call at Horne and Shaw.  The victim did not have visible injuries at the time, but was unconscious.

Corpus Christi Homicide/Robbery Detectives received information that on August 2nd, the victim had been involved in a verbal altercation with several individuals over a debt owed by a roommate. During the confrontation the victim was knocked unconscious and robbed.  The suspects who included two males and a pregnant female left in a black four-door vehicle with a spoiler.

During their investigation, Detectives discovered Police were called to the residence at 4100 Shaw on August 2nd, but the victim did not want to file a police report, refusing to cooperate with Officers.  The roommate told Detectives the victim left the residence on Friday, August 3rd and did not return. 

Detectives’ continued their investigation and were able to identify the suspects.  Detective R. Lee obtained warrants for Gabriel Grande Jr. (02/24/93) and Alfonso Garcia (08/20/59) for Aggravated Robbery.  Each warrant had a bond of $150,000.  Detective Lee also obtained a warrant for Grande’s pregnant girlfriend, Jazmyn Monique De Los Santos (04/14/93) for Aggravated Robbery.

Grande was arrested on August 9th at 1701 Yale Street and charged with the outstanding Aggravated Robbery warrant by Senior Officers J. Vela and H. Corona.  Senior Officer J. Vela arrested Garcia about forty minutes later in the 1700 block of Yale Street.  He was charged with the outstanding Aggravated Robbery warrant.  Senior Officer H. Corona and D. Gipson arrested De Los Santos on August 14th at 1701 Yale Street and booked at the City Detention Center on the outstanding Aggravated Robbery warrant.

The 59-year-old victim died on August 8th and the investigation is ongoing pending the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s ruling.

Community Outreach, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Criminal Investigations Division

Fake Groupon Discount Offer Hides Virus

The Corpus Christi Police Financial Crimes Investigators would like to warn the public of a new email scam that infects computers with a virus.

The email that transmits a virus is presented as a shopping deal from Groupon complete with the colors, logo, and email format. The email has an attachment file called “group coupon.zip” which contains a virus designed to infect the Windows operating system.

Police advise the public to keep an updated virus software program and run a scan periodically. Anyone that questions the validity of any Groupon deal should contact the company’s customer support.

Visit the Better Business Bureau website for more information about breaking scams in our area.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Woman Arrested For Role In Serious Injury To 67 Year Old Man

Occurred Wednesday, August 9, 2012, 1:00am, 1922 Violeta Court, Aggravated Assault, and Burglary with intent to commit other felony 1208090042

A 67-year-old man suffered serious injury as the result of an assault in his home Wednesday night.

A 50-year-old health care provider called Corpus Christi Police at 8:00am Wednesday morning to report an assault. The 50-year-old woman said she arrived at the 67-year-old man’s apartment and discovered the man had been injured by an unknown person overnight. The 50-year-old woman explained that she does not know the reason, but an unknown person entered the home without permission and hit the 67-year-old man in the head causing significant head trauma to the 67-year-old man.

The 67-year-old man was unable to provide details to investigators and was sent to the hospital by ambulance for medical treatment.

Corpus Christi Police Detectives developed information to identify and arrest 35-year-old Esmeralda Benavidez (11/11/1976) on Monday, August 13, 2012 for her role in the burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit other felony.

Sunday, August 12, 2012, the 67-year-old man died. The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an inquiry as to the cause of death.

Corpus Christi Police Detectives continue to investigate and gather information about this crime.  Anyone with additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2600. Information may be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Criminal Investigations Division

Suspects arrested in connection with an aggravated robbery

August 2, 2012 Aggravated Robbery 4100 Shaw 1208060186

On August 2nd at 6:31pm, CCPD responded to 4100 Shaw for an assault not in progress call. The officer assigned the call made contact with Edward Perez 7-16-53. It was Edward’s room mate who had called police on his behalf. The officer noted that Edward may have been intoxicated refused medical treatment and was declining to make a report at the time.

On August 3rd CCFD Medic 10 and police responded to a call at 4100 Stafford for a man down. An unconscious but breathing subject (later identified as Edward Perez) was located sitting in a lawn chair. There were no visible injuries observed and he was transported to Sphon Shoreline.

On August 6th at approximately 9:00pm CCPD was requested at Sphon Shoreline for an assault not in progress. The responding officer learned that Edward Perez was unresponsive. The officer learned from an individual at the hospital that Edward’s roommate told him that there had been an altercation over an amount of money that may have been owed on August 2nd. Edward may have been knocked unconscious.

Further investigation revealed that Edward’s roommate owed money to some individuals who came to collect on August 2nd. One of the individuals struck Edward, possibly with an object and Edward fell to the ground unconscious. Once unconscious, the suspects searched his body taking his money. The three individuals then left. The Criminal Investigative Division began to investigate the case as an aggravated robbery.

On August 7th Edward Perez died in the hospital.

Warrants were obtained for two of the suspects and on August 9th CCPD arrested one of the suspects Gabriel Grande 2-24-93 at his home on Yale Street. Alfonso Garcia 8-20-59 was observed on the sidewalk on Yale Street and arrested without incident. The third suspect has been identified and the issuance of a warrant is pending.

Detectives are waiting on the final report from the Nueces Medical Examiner to decide if the current charges will be upgraded.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Police Officers Learn About Insurance Fraud

The National Insurance Crime Bureau provided training Friday to area law enforcement at the Del Mar College and hosted by the Corpus Christi Police Departments Auto Theft Task Force to provide information to identify fraudulently altered or stolen vehicles through document review and vehicle inspection.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, insurance fraud costs 30 billion dollars per year which is passed onto the insurance customers. The objective for the day long class was to equip law enforcement officers with the ability to decode and detect fraudulent Vehicle Identification Numbers.

ThNational Insurance Crime Bureau is a not for profit organization formed in 1992 dedicated exclusively to fight insurance fraud and crime. The N.I.C.B. has membership of over 1,000 property and insurance companies, self insured organizations, rental car companies, parking service providers, and transportation-related firms. The N.I.C.B. provides training to law enforcement without fee. The class was taught by N.I.C.B. Agents John Mitchell and Mike Gallagher.

Law Enforcement Officers learned about the 17 character Vehicle Identification Number system. The V.I.N. is mandated by Federal regulations as the primary identification number for all vehicles made after 1981.

The N.I.C.B. has the goal to provide the training to the law enforcement officers today to prevent and combat insurance fraud and crime through data analytics, investigations, and public awareness.

As part of the public awareness campaign, the public may use the N.I.C.B.s  VINCheck program for no fee. The VINCheck program allows the public to determine if a vehicle has been reported stolen and not recovered or reported as salvaged. Visit the N.I.C.B. website https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck/vincheck for more information.

Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division

Proper Collection of evidence by a patrol officer leads to solving a robbery

Occurred May 11th 2011 08:24  5401 Leopard Street Robbery  1105110030

Rene Manzano

Corpus Christi Police have identified a suspect involved in the robbery of Pockets Sports Bar last year.  A male suspect who was wearing a ski mask had demanded all the money from the cash registers, but there was none as the business was not yet open for the day.  The bar employee called 911 and the suspect fled.

Senior Officer Charlie Williams responded and a canvas of the area revealed the suspect’s shirt and ski mask near by. That evidence was carefully collected and submitted for DNA analysis.

In February of this year, CCPD detective Sergio Delgado was notified by DPS that the DNA from the items matched suspect Rene Manzano 07-09-66. At that time Detective Delgado attempted to contact Rene Manzano to obtain a sample of his DNA for confirmation. Rene Manzano could not be located. As he is a registered sex offender, Rene Manzano is required to register his current address with local law enforcement. Detective Delgado drafted a warrant for the arrest of Rene Manzano for Failure to Comply with Sexual registration and he was located by the U.S. Marshal task force.

Once in custody a sample of Rene Manzano’s DNA was taken and it was a positive match for the discarded mask and shirt from the robbery. Detective Delagado will be presenting the robbery case to the Nueces County District Attorney.

Criminal Investigations Division

Corpus Christi Financial Crimes Investigators Warn Of New Scam

The Corpus Christi Police Financial Crimes Investigators have received information from the Better Business Bureau to warn the public about an other scam. A circulation of new gift card scam emails use the BBB name. The following message is an announcement from the Better Business Bureau:

BBB joined Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy as another established brand used to promote fake gift cards. Don’t bother trying to redeem this offer. It’s just a trick to get your email address, cell number and other personal information.

How the Scam Works:

People nationwide are receiving emails informing them that Better Business Bureau is giving away $1,000 Visa gift cards. Emails come from a variety of email addresses and contain different links, but all use a variation of the message below:
“Dear John

On behalf of Better Business Bureau you have been issued a $1,000 Visa Gift Card free of charge.

Card type: Visa Gift

Card Issued to: JOHN SMITH

Issuing branch: Amarillo, Texas

Valid until: 08/2015

Please use the following website to claim your card and have it shipped to the address of your choosing: Go to: www reward2012 com Note that claims must be made within 48 hours from this email being sent, or the above link will become invalid.

Sincerely, Rachel

Customer Service Employee Benefits Center, LLC ”
Go to the web address given in the email, and you will be asked to input information about your age, address, email and cell phone number. Given that the survey does not request your Social Security Number, banking information or ask you to download a maleware file, it is not likely an attempt at ID theft. Rather, it’s probably an unscrupulous way to collect consumer data, such as email addresses and phone numbers.

More Information:

See BBB.org’s complete scam directory for more information about breaking scams in your area.

Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division

Police Arrest Man For Murder

Occurred Friday, July 20, 2012, 19:11, 1013 Harbor Lights Drive, Murder 1207200155

A 23-year-old man was arrested at his home on Sun Ray Friday evening for a murder that happened at South Bay Park in Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a shooting call at 1013 Harbor Lights which is the address for South Bay Park. Police Officers discovered a man in his early 20’s laid in the road and had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Corpus Christi Fire Department Emergency Medical Services provided care to the man in the road, but the man did not survive the injuries.

Corpus Christi Police Homicide Investigators arrived at the scene and conducted an investigation. Based on witnesses to the event and evidence at the scene, the investigators specifically identified a suspect.

Corpus Christi Police arrested 23-year-old Trinity Kane Ringlestein (10/15/1988) on Friday night for murder.

Corpus Christi Police continue to investigate this event and encourages anyone that knows details about this crime to call police to make the information available for detectives.

Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division

Woman Embezzles Money from 70-Year-Old Employer

Occurred on 7/17/12, 6:35 pm  Wanted Subject     11905 Black Peak Dr.  1207170133 

Officer E. Najar was looking for wanted subject Perla Ibarra aka Perla Cavazos(09/14/78) when he found her in her front yard.  A warrant was issued for Ibarra after she was accused of embezzling in excess of $84,000 from a previous employer. 

Financial Crimes Detective L. Mathews obtained a warrant on for Ibarra on July 16, 2012.  Ibarra was arrested and charged with the outstanding warrant for Theft by Embezzlement~Enhanced Elderly Victim.  Her bond was set at 20,000.

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Shoplifter Sought By Police

      

Occurred Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 20:45, 5488 S. Padre Island Drive, Theft 1207115001

Corpus Christi Police Property Crimes Investigators want help from the public to identify and locate a shoplifter.

Corpus Christi Police are investigating several thefts from department stores in which the same man has been responsible to take several hundred dollars worth of clothes without paying for the merchandise.

The man sought by police went to the Macy’s on July 10 and grabbed 8 pairs of Miss Me Pants valued at $800 and ran out of the store without paying for the pants. Macy’s employees provided video images to police to aid the investigation.

The man is described as a Hispanic male, about 6 feet tall that wore a powder blue baseball cap, a blue and white striped long sleeve shirt, white basketball shorts and white basketball shoes.

Anyone with information about this crime should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip at www.888TIPS.com. If the information leads to an arrest, it could earn the caller a cash reward.