Category Archives: Criminal Investigations Division

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Woman Captured For Child Endangerment

Update: Occurred April 3, 2012, 1:12am HINDERING APPREHENSION 1426 PAIGE 1204030001

 

Katherine Gaynor (4/7/1989) was arrested at the Corpus Christi Police Department April 4, 2012 by Corpus Christi Police detectives that investigated the case of child endangerment for her two-year old son.

                Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to information that a child may be in neglect at the 1400 block of Paige on April 3, 2012. The Patrol Officers were familiar with the address for previous calls for service. The officers discovered a two-year old child was outside the apartment unsupervised and in a dangerous condition. The officers located the mother and discovered the interior of the apartment was a hazardous condition for any child. Other violations revealed in the investigation so the officers contacted Child Protective Services to respond and evaluate the circumstance.

The mother, 22-year-old Katherine Gaynor, was placed under arrest, but allowed to gather a car seat and other items for the child. Seventeen year old Deonte Jones (12/14/1994) had arrived to assist and held the child while the mother gathered the necessary items. Jones caused a distraction for the officers and got between Gaynor and the officers which allowed Gaynor to escape through a window and flee. The child was placed in the custody of the Child Protective Services.

Gaynor is charged with Child Endangerment, a 2nd degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

 

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Help Identify Camera Thieves

        

Occurred March 22, 2012 5:00am, 1821 South Padre Island Dr. Theft 1203220066

Corpus Christi Police Property Crimes investigators need additional information from the public to identify two men that stole cameras from a local store at the 1800 block of South Padre Island Drive.

The theft happened at about 5:00am on March 22, 2012. One man seen in the video broke the cabinet where the cameras were stored and took several types of cameras then left the store. The man who broke into the cabinet is described as a white male that wore a black jacket over a gray sweater and a black shirt and blue jean shorts.

A second man described as a Hispanic male that wore a black cap, red polo shirt with blue jeans acted as a look-out while the crime took place.

Anyone with any information about this crime should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or log onto www.888TIPS.com. The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

Criminal Investigations Division

Watch Out For These Scams

Landlords and tenants should be wary because rental scams are on the rise as criminals move in to take advantage of the volatile housing market.

Many people never consider how easy it is to take advantage of someone looking for a property to rent. Few give it a second thought. Fewer still take the steps necessary to ensure the person they’re renting to or from isn’t a criminal until it’s too late.

Avoiding rental scams begins with understanding how they work. Once you know what to look for, your chances of identifying one before you hand over your money increase enormously.

Ploys used by scammers to steal rent money:

  • Renting with the intent of renting to others. This scam works just how it sounds. A scam artist rents a property so they can show it to other prospective renters. They’ll collect first and last month’s rent, security deposits and any fees or charges they can squeeze out of their victims before skipping town with the loot. There have been reports of a single property being leased or rented to dozens of people before the crook vanished with their money.
  • Renting on behalf of the owner. This scam is similar to the previous one but there’s one major difference: the scam artist claims to be helping someone else rent the property. They might be sick, or overseas, or just too busy to do it themselves for whatever reason. Once the scammer collects first, last, deposits and fees they skip town. The renter then discovers the home wasn’t for rent. The owners or renters may have been away for business or pleasure, or it’s a vacation home, or it could be a foreclosed property. Either way you’re out the money if you fall for it.
  • Nigerian Rental Scams. This scam is a variation of the two previous scams but differs in that it takes place on the internet and the scammer doesn’t need to be present and may never have been to the property. This scam is especially dangerous because it targets both property owners and renters. One flavor of this scam involves a crook finding a photo of a property and its address then posting them on Craigslist or other online rental websites hoping someone will be willing to wire them the first and last month’s rent, security deposits, and assorted fees (Sound familiar?). If you think no one falls for this, guess again. People are generally quite trusting and the ad will be so enticing that the potential renters will think they’re getting a bargain.

    A variation of this scam is the classic Nigerian 419 scam. Someone will answer an online posting for a property and ask to pay by Western Union or an equivalent money wiring service. If the landlord takes the bait, and many do, the renter will “accidently” pay too much. The renter will apologize and ask for the extra funds to be sent back to them. If the landlord doesn’t wait for the payment to clear the bank and sends the money, they’re out whatever they send. That’s the scam and it’s very successful.

Now that you know a few of the most common rental scams, let’s look at how to detect and avoid them! Below are some ways you can find out if you’re dealing with the actual property owner.

How to detect rental scams

  • Ask the landlord if you can see their ID.
  • Search local government websites for the rental properties address and make sure the name listed matches the landlord’s ID.
  • If a property management company is managing the condo, home or community, call them and ask whether the person you’re dealing with actually owns the property.
  • Your state or county should have information regarding property management companies and whether they’re actually managing the property you’re interested in. You should be able to find the contact information for the property management company in a building lobby or posted in a common area, such as the swimming pool cabana area or clubhouse.
  • If you are leasing in a gated community or a condominium, a rental application is almost always required. If the landlord doesn’t have one or doesn’t even know how to get one, I’d call that a red flag.
  • Use Google or another search engine to look up the properties address, land lord’s name and phone number phone number, etc. You might be surprised at what you find.
  • Considering how many homes are being foreclosed, don’t be afraid to ask if the landlord is current on their mortgage payments.
  • You can also consider getting help finding a rental property from a real-estate agent.

If you’re a property owner, we offer the following tips to help you protect your investment:

Rental Scam Tips for Property Owners

  • Keep a watchful eye on your home. If you don’t live nearby, consider hiring a home watch service to periodically check the home for odd activity.
  • Change the locks frequently if you rent the property often. If your previous tenants kept a copy of the keys, they have access to the home!
  • Ask potential tenants for references and follow up by checking them.
  • Verify your tenant’s employment by contacting their employer.
  • Run a credit check on potential tenants before renting to them.
  • Don’t let a tenant pay more than you asked for then demand a refund. If you give it to them, you’re out the money.
  • Use Google or another search engine to look up the name, phone number, and prior address. While you’re at it, check police records to find out if you’re dealing with a known criminal.

This may seem like a lot of work but much of it can be done quickly in front of your computer. If you ask anyone that’s been bilked out of their rent money, they’ll tell you it’s time well spent.

 

As with all scams, you can report them to IC3.gov and the BBB. If you wish to know more about scams, you can visit www.fraudguides.com and IC3 for the most current scams being run.

Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division

Help Identify This Graffiti Vandal

Occurred Sunday, January 8, 2012 1:30am, Stripes 3238 Buddy Lawrence Dr. 1201080024

     

Corpus Christi Police are seeking additional information from the public to identify those responsible for graffiti and criminal mischief done to the Stripes at 3238 Buddy Lawrence Dr. last January.

A Corpus Christi Police Officer went to the Stripes store on January 8 and noticed a security camera was damaged. The officer learned from the store employee that the damage was new and there was new graffiti on the walls of the store.

The value of the damage to the camera is an estimated $2,000. The criminal mischief charge is a State Jail Felony which, if convicted, the person responsible faces up to 2 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.  The graffiti charge is a Class B misdemeanor which is punishable with up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

Anyone may search the reported crime in Corpus Christi through Crimereports.com. The site is also a venue to provide information to law enforcement about criminal activity.

Anyone who can identify this person or has additional information about this crime should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or logon to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division

39 Year Old Arrested For Murder

Occurred March 27, 2012 300 Westchester Murder Warrant Service 1203150025

Corpus Christi Police Homicide Detectives supported by the United States Marshal’s Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force arrested 39-year-old Xavier Harvey Salinas (5/3/1972) for a warrant for arrest for the murder of Nathaniel Vargas.

Corpus Christi Police investigated the death of Nathaniel Vargas on the 700 block of Omaha Drive on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at about 8am. The investigators with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Gang unit evaluated evidence and identified Xavier Salinas as the person responsible for the crime.

Salinas was arrested at his place of employment at the 300 block of Westchester at 8:53am. Corpus Christi Police continue to investigate additional information about this case.

The Corpus Christi Police would like to thank the members of the community who assisted with the collection of information to resolve this investigation.

Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division

$8,000 In Copper Taken From A Business

Occurred Monday, March 26, 2012 overnight Copper Theft 1203260034

Over $8,000 worth of copper was stolen from a business overnight and Corpus Christi Police would like help from the community to apprehend the persons responsible.

Police were called to 8421 Up River Road for theft of copper. The manager of the business told police that the air conditioner units for several portable offices were damaged and the copper was removed. The manager of the business said the theft took place over the weekend between Friday at 6pm and Monday at 8am.

Anyone with any information should call crime stoppers at 888TIPS or logon to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided may earn the caller a cash reward.

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Detectives Seek Buglary Suspect Who Left Behind Wrestling Mask

Occurred on 3/15/12, 4:26 a.m.   Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to  Commit a Felony   3802 Caravelle Parkway   1203150019

Officers responded to the Waterford Apartment Complex and contacted a 29-year-old female who reported she awoke to find a male covering her face with a blanket.  The victim told Officers the suspect fled when she began to struggle with him.

Th suspect reached over the bed as if looking for something.  A struggle ensued in which the suspect and the victim exchanged punches.  The suspect was able to escape and the victim called police.  The victim sustained a minor injury to her hand during the assault.

The suspect is described as a White or Hispanic male, 5’7″ feet tall, and weighing 140 to 155 lbs.  He was last seen running through complex.  Officers did recover a wrestling mask matching the mask shown below. 

Homicide/Robbery Detectives requested the assistance of the Department of Public Safety’s Forensic Artist who rendered the two attached sketches of the suspect.

Anyone having any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip via the internet at www.888tips.com.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Update on In-Custody Death

On Sunday February 12th at about 2:14 AM, the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Corpus Christi Fire Department were called to a home in the 1700 block of Morales to assist a man who was reportedly having difficulty breathing. The responding public safety personnel discovered a 48-year-old man displaying obvious signs of medical distress.  Sr. Officer Mike Wertanen and Officer Brandon Cordell assisted the medics by restraining the man and placing him in handcuffs.  This allowed the medics to provide emergency medical treatment.  Medics subsequently transported the man by ambulance to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. 

Today, March 15, 2012, the Nueces County Medical Examiner ruled the death as a homicide.  Although a homicide means that the nature of the death was not natural, it does not indicate the death was caused by any wrongdoing.

The Corpus Christi Police Department Criminal Investigation Division will continue with the investigation into the matter.  Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the grand jury.  This is the standard procedure in all in-custody deaths.

As is also standard procedure, an internal administrative review that was started immediately following the event will continue.  This review will determine if the policies and procedures of the Corpus Christi Police Department were followed.

The Officers involved will remain on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation and the ruling by the Grand Jury.

Information released on February 15, 2012 by the Corpus Christi Police Department

Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide Detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of a 48 year-old man who died following a struggle with police officers and medics early Sunday morning at a home in the 1700 block of Morales Street. On Sunday February 12th at about 2:14 AM, the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Corpus Christi Fire Department were called to the home to assist a man who was reportedly having difficulty breathing. The responding public safety personnel discovered a 48-year-old man displaying obvious signs of medical distress. Before he could be treated, the man began struggling with the medics. Officers assisted the medics by restraining the man and placing him in handcuffs. Officers did not deploy their Tasers nor utilize pepper spray to subdue the man. After being handcuffed, the man suddenly quit breathing. Officers immediately removed the handcuffs so the medics could begin CPR. Medics then rushed the man by ambulance to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Homicide Detectives are continuing to interview witnesses to the incident, including family members and the emergency personnel who responded to the scene. The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office has completed an autopsy on the man, but the final report has not yet been released pending the results of certain tests. Two of the responding Officers have been placed on Administrative Leave, which is standard Police Department procedure in all such instances. They are Senior Officer Mike Wertanen, a 22 year veteran of the Police Department, and Officer Brandon Cordell, who has four years with CCPD. The Officers will remain on leave pending the outcome of a thorough investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division. Once the investigation is completed it will be submitted to the District Attorneys Office and presented to the Grand Jury, which is standard procedure in all in-custody deaths.

 Note: Click here to see the original information released by the Corpus Christi Police Department http://wp.me/p1D8kP-11H

Adam District, Criminal Investigations Division

Morning Homicide on Omaha Drive

Occurred March 15, 2012 8:00am  700 Omaha Dr.  Aggravated Assault    1203150025

Corpus Christi Police were called to the 700 block of Omaha Drive at 8:00am Thursday morning in reference to a shooting.

Police Officers found a man who had an injury consistent with a gunshot wound. The man believed to be an age of early twenties was immediately taken by ambulance to the Spohn Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police closed off the street to traffic to search for clues about this event. Police are searching for an older model white vehicle that may be related to this event.

The victim of this crime expired at the hospital as a result of the injuries. Homicide detectives are investigating leads and request any information from the public in relation to this crime.

Anyone with any information about this event is encouraged to notify police or call crime stoppers at 888-TIPS or log on to http://www.888TIPS.com.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Please Help Us Find Missing Person Julia Ruiz

The Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Bureau is asking the public’s assistance in locating 59-year-old Julia Ruiz who was reported missing on March 13, 2012.  Ruiz’ ex-husband told Officers he last saw her on Sunday, March 11 when he stopped by to visit.  CCPD Case number: 1203130095

He told Officers he went to pick up dinner and when he returned she was gone.  Julia Ruiz suffers from a medical condition and is on prescribed medication which was left behind. 

Julia  is a five feet tall Hispanic female who weighs 170 lbs.  She has short brown wavy hair and pierced ears.  Julia was last seen wearing a purple nightgown. 

Anyone having any information regarding this Missing Person is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detective R.L. Garcia at 361-886-2850.