The C.C.P.D.’s commitment to “Keep Corpus Christi Safe” has continued with its “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative”

On Saturday, December 1, 2012, a total of 82 cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be auctioned at the Corpus Christi Police Department’s  Vehicle Impound Lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive during our monthly auction. The site has four paved acres for an auction lot.

Approximately 21 of these vehicles are “No Insurance” impounds. On Friday, November 30, 2012, 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.   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.

Officers issued 5,509 citations and impounded 1,212 vehicles for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility during 2011.  During October of 2012, Officers issued 296 citations for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and impounded 76 vehicles for the same charge.

The Corpus Christi Police Department Financial Crimes Unit would like you to be wary if you’re online job hunting.  Several complaints have been filed in which advertised jobs on Craig’s List are shams and being used to scam individuals out of their personal information and money.

Please visit the following link for Red Flags to look for while searching for a job online. http://mashable.com/2012/11/25/job-searching-craigslist/

Remember; trust your instincts, if the offer is too good to be true, it is.

On 11/13/12, Investigators with Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force culminated an investigation with the arrest of Daniel Ricardo Barrientos (12/20/82) for Online Solicitation of a Minor.

Barrientos had been communicating via internet in order to have sex with what he believed was a 12-year-old and 14-year-old girl.  When Barrientos arrived to meet the girls, he was taken into custody.  Barrientos was booked into the City Detention Center and received a $15000 bond.  He has since been released.

Occurred on 11/19/12, 8:53pm  Criminal Mischief  5401 Leopard  1211190147 

Corpus Christi Police were called to The Caberet Men’s Club for a major accident involving a disgruntled patron.  A 46-year-man was asked to leave after he refused to tip the dancers.  Silva (10/15/66) was escorted out by staff and got into his vehicle.

Witnesses told Officers, Silva entered his Ford Expedition and began “burning rubber” in the parking lot.  Witnesses observed Silva accelerate and intentionally crash into the building causing $20,000 in damages.  No one inside the building was injured.

Silva was arrested and taken to  Spohn Memorial for a medical evaluation.  He was medically cleared and charged  with Criminal Mischief, a Third Degree Felony punishable by up ten years in prison and a $10,000.

Monday November 19th 10:14am 4400 Ayers Bank Robbery 1211190037

Patrol Officers responded to a bank robbery call where a lone subject with a note had demanded money and was seen leaving on foot. A search of the area revealed clothing matching those worn by the suspect were discarded by a vacant building. K-9 “Kimbo” responded and located additional clothing worn by the suspect. A witness advised that a man was seen running from where the clothing was located to a restaurant across the street. Officers contacted a subject at the restaurant matching the robber’s description. Money was located inside his boot and he was positively identified by a bank clerk as the robber. Vernon Tolmie was arrested for the crime and transported to the City Detention Center.

Occurred on 11/18/12, 4:34am   Minor Accident  838 Lantana   C1208807

Police were called to an early morning hit and run accident in which a white Ford F250 was traveling northbound on Lantana when it left the roadway.  The truck struck a car port and the two parked vehicles inside.  The truck and driver fled the accident scene, leaving the truck’s license plate behind.  No one inside the home was injured.

Officers did locate the unoccupied pick-up truck in the parking lot of the Sea Breeze Apartments located at 809 Derry.  The vehicle was impounded.

The hit and run investigation remains ongoing and will be conducted by the Traffic Safety Division.  Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged 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.