Category Archives: Patrol Division

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Police Take Juvenile Into Custody Near Midnight For $12,000 of Graffiti on Staples Street

Occurred Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 23:55 5000 Staples Street, Graffiti arrest, 1212200004

                A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday night for an estimated $12,000 worth of damage to buildings in the area of the 5000 block of Staples Street.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers were called to the area of the 5000 block of Staples at 11:55pm to investigate a suspicious person complaint. One patrol officer saw the man described by the caller near the intersection of Staples and South Padre Island Drive. The officer exited his patrol car to meet the person; but, the man ran from the officer. The officer chased the man around the Sunrise Mall and into a neighborhood across McArdle Road.

The man ran to the 1100 block of Lum Avenue when officers caught the man. The man fought with police officers and was exposed to pepper spray until the officer could apply handcuffs. The man was discovered to be 16 years old.

The officer discovered graffiti implements with the 16-year-old boy. Other police officers searched the area and found fresh graffiti on a fence on the 1600 block of Airline, on a vacant restaurant at Williams and Staples, on a business and a trailer of the business on the 5700 block of S.P.I.D., and on an overpass. The estimated value of the damage is $12,000.

The 16-year-old boy was delivered to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center for Graffiti (state jail felony), Evading Arrest (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of Graffiti Implements (Class C misdemeanor), Resisting Arrest (Class A misdemeanor), and for violation of the night curfew (Class C misdemeanor).

Police remind everyone that there is a Corpus Christi city ordinance (CC33-40) that prohibits any person less than 17 years of age from a public place between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. unless with supervision by a guardian.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Woman Falls Asleep While Driving and Rolls Vehicle On Freeway

2900 State Highway 358 from Google Street View
2900 State Highway 358 from Google Street View

Occurred Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 5:09am, 2833 South Padre Island Drive, Major vehicle crash, C1209574

A 32-year-old woman flipped her vehicle in front of the Corpus Christi Trade Center Tuesday at 5:00 in the morning.

Corpus Christi Police found the 32-year-old woman did not have major injuries after her gold 1996 Saturn 4 door sedan drifted off the freeway. No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash and investigating patrol officers did not discover any indication that alcohol was a contributing factor.

The 32-year-old woman was fatigued and had fallen asleep while driving on the 2900 block of State Highway 358.

The car was towed due to damage and the 32-year-old woman was issued a traffic citation for making an unsafe change from a direct course and for driving without a license.

Corpus Christi Police investigated a crash at Kostoryz and Saratoga on December 14 in which the operator of the vehicle fell asleep while driving. Be mindful of driving times and know the warning signs of a fatigued condition. Constant yawning, inability to keep eyes focussed, or if one can’t remember the last few moments of driving are all indicators that a driver is fatigued. It is safer to take a break than to continue to operate a vehicle.

Adam District, Patrol Division

Woman Injures Police Officer And Flees From Traffic Stop

Occurred Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 00:36, Buddy Lawrence Dr. at Nandina Drive, Evading Arrest, 1212180003

Two women were arrested and a Corpus Christi Police Officer was injured after a traffic stop Tuesday morning near the intersection of Buddy Lawrence and Nandina Drive.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officer V. Ortiz observed a gold 2000 Mazda 4 door sedan fail to stop at a stop sign and not signal the turn at Mimosa and Nandina Tuesday morning at 12:36am. Officer Ortiz conducted a traffic stop and got the necessary documents required by the 31-year-old operator of the vehicle. The 31-year-old man was removed from the car and a 19-year-old passenger, Shayna Snow (3/5/1993), climbed to the driver’s seat and fled.

The vehicle ran over Officer Ortiz’s right foot when Snow fled and the 31-year-old man was left in place as Officer Ortiz got into his patrol car and followed the gold Mazda.

The Mazda fled on the Interstate Highway 37 to the Crosstown Expressway intersection and entered the grass embankment. While the vehicle was still in motion, Snow got out of the car and ran in a different direction.

The Mazda stopped in the grass and the 18-year-old passenger, Jorianna Galindo (7/31/1994), climbed to the driver’s seat and attempted to flee. Officer Ortiz pulled Galindo from the vehicle and detained her.

Other patrol officers apprehended Snow after a chase on foot. Snow was arrested for possession of marijuana, evading arrest in a vehicle, evading arrest on foot, two theft warrants for her arrest and one warrant for her arrest for an assault.

Galindo was arrested for possession of marijuana. The Mazda was impounded and delivered to the city impound lot.

Other officers returned to the original place of the traffic stop and found the 31-year-old man who was the original driver of the Mazda. The 31-year-old man was issued traffic citations for the stop sign and signal violations, and then given a ride by police officers to his destination.

Officer Ortiz received treatment for an injury to his foot and Snow was additionally charged with assault on a peace officer, a 1st degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Bravo District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Woman Strikes Two Parked Cars Then Arrested For DWI

 

2000 block of Merriman Street
2000 block of Merriman Avenue

Occurred Sunday, December 16, 2012, 4:20am, 2000 Merriman Avenue, Driving While Intoxicated, 1212160039

                A 21-year-old woman was arrested for driving while intoxicated Sunday morning after she struck 2 parked cars on the 2000 block of Merriman Avenue.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a call of a vehicle crash at 4:20am on the 2000 block of Merriman and found 21-year-old Maci White (5/1/1991) uninjured as she stood next to her black 2000 Honda Civic.

Police Officers discovered the Civic stuck two parked cars on the 2000 block of Merriman Avenue between Moffett Lane and Wallace Avenue. Police discovered indications that White was intoxicated.

White was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and her vehicle was impounded. White was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation and for a sample of her blood was collected. White was then delivered to the city detention center.

Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division

Police Arrest Murder Suspect On Staples Street

Occurred Saturday, December 15, 2012, 11:23am, 5858 South Padre Island Drive, Homicide, 1212150072

A man was found with a fatal injury Saturday at the Sunrise Mall and a 39-year-old man has been detained by police.

Mall security staff discovered a man believed to be 60-65 years of age in the restroom of the mall with an obvious injury. Corpus Christi Police were in very close proximity because of the Holiday Initiative and arrived before any medical assistance. The fast response from the Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers allowed them to develop a description of a person they believed caused the man’s injury.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers in the area were able to locate and detain a 39-year-old man on the 5000 block of Staples Street.
An ambulance crew arrived and determined that the man died from his injuries. Corpus Christi Police Robbery/Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and continue to collect and gather information and evidence.

39-year-old George Viera (8/25/1973) was arrested for Murder, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia and delivered to the city detention center.

Detectives express gratitude to the great work provided by the Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers who quickly responded and apprehended a person believed to be responsible. The Corpus Christi Police Holiday Initiative is a saturation of extra patrol officers in shopping areas who work with security companies and store employees to reduce the risk of crime.

The public is encouraged to report any unusual activity to police immediately so that a quick response will further reduce risk of crime and enhance the ability to quickly capture suspects.

Anyone with any additional information about this crime are encouraged to call the Corpus Christi Police at 886-2841.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate 2 Robberies On McArdle

Occurred Saturday, December 15, 2012, 1:00am, 7526 McArdle, Aggravated Robbery, 1212150004

                Two men threatened a store clerk with a tire iron and stole items from a store near the intersection of Ennis Joslin and McArdle Saturday morning.

No person was injured in the event. Two men went into the store at about 1:00am in the morning and displayed a tire iron to the store clerk. The men had bandanas that covered their faces and they demanded the cash drawer be opened. The store clerk was cleaning the store when the two men entered, and the store clerk was able to leave the store to safety.

The two men took lottery tickets from the store, and then ran into a nearby apartment complex. One of the men responsible for this crime is described as a male who wore all black with a black bandana and gloves and held a tire tool. The second man responsible for the crime is described as a man who wore a white pullover sweater, black pants, and a black bandana.

Corpus Christi Police were later called to another robbery in the same area at Nile and McArdle at 6:00am where a woman reported two men who wore black hoodies took her purse by force and ran into a nearby apartment complex.  The men did not display any weapon to the woman and she was not injured.

Anyone with any additional information about these crimes should call Corpus Christi Police at 886-2841. Information may be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate Murder At Lounge On South Water Street

Occurred Saturday, December 15, 2012, 3:36am, 505 South Water Street, Homicide 1212150028

                A 29-year-old man was fatally injured Saturday morning after a disturbance at the Smokin Waves Lounge at 505 S. Water Street.

A crowd met at the Lounge Saturday morning and a disturbance happened among the group. One man from the group walked away from the group, and then presented a pistol and discharged the firearm in the direction of the crowd. The man who discharged the firearm then left in a red Dodge Durango.

One man was injured in event. The injured 29-year-old man was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he died from the injury.

Police began a search for a Hispanic man between 20-29 years of age who wore a short sleeve button up red plaid shirt and blue jeans and was last seen in a red Dodge Durango truck.

Anyone with additional information should call the Corpus Christi Police at 886-2841. Information may be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate Threats on Williams Drive

Occurred Friday, December 14, 2012, 10:45am, 5830 Williams Drive, Terroristic Threats 1212140057

                Corpus Christi Police are investigating a threat made to the staff at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Friday morning.

An employee received a telephone call just before 10:30am from a man who made threats which prompted the staff to lock down the school. Corpus Christi Police responded to the area to provide additional security. Other area school districts were called to inform them of the threat.

The person who called in the threat has not yet been apprehended. Corpus Christi Police request anyone with any information to identify or locate the person responsible to call Corpus Christi Police at (361) 886-2600.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Sleeping Driver Causes Crash at Kostoryz and Saratoga

Occurred Friday, December 14, 2012, 1:13am, Kostoryz Road at Saratoga Boulevard, Major Vehicle Crash C1209459

                A 25-year-old man caused a crash at the intersection of Kostoryz Road and Saratoga Boulevard Friday morning after he fell asleep at the wheel.

A 25-year-old man drove a black 2013 Chevrolet Silverado south on Kostoryz Road at 1:13 am. The man fell asleep and went through the red light. The Silverado then struck a white 1999 Cadillac Fleetwood 4 door car and injured the two male occupants of the Cadillac.

The two injured men were both 23 years old and were treated at the scene by an ambulance crew but not taken to the hospital. Both the Silverado and the Cadillac were towed due to damage.

The 25-year-old man who caused the crash received a traffic citation for running the red light and released at the scene. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Police Catch Burglar With Shirt Over Head on SPID

Occurred Thursday, December 13, 2012, 23:44, 3487 South Padre Island Drive, Burglary 1212140002

                A 34-year-old man was arrested Friday morning for burglary after he went to a mechanic shop on South Padre Island Drive after hours and stole items from vehicles.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers responded to an alarm at the Great State Transmissions at 11:44pm on Thursday night. A patrol officer saw a man with in the fenced area of the business. The man, 34-year-old Bruce Garcia (9/28/1978) had his shirt pulled up so that the collar was over his head in an attempt to conceal his identify.

Garcia saw the officer and walked away but was stopped by two other patrol officers. Officers discovered about $390 worth of property taken from three vehicles and gathered in one spot.

The manager of the business arrived and verified that no person had consent to be on the property at that time and the property was taken from the vehicles without permission.

Garcia, an unemployed man, was arrested for burglary of a vehicle (a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine) and for criminal trespass (a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine). Garcia was then delivered to the city detention center.