Category Archives: Patrol Division

Charlie District, Patrol Division

“Taking a Bite Out of Crime”

Jean MIchelle Zapata
Teodoro Rosas

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Occurred on 9/23/12, 4:56 pm  Assault on a Public Servant    313 Brownlee  1209230104/1209230097

Officers were dispatched to a theft call in which a male wearing a red hat along with a female carrying a backpack were involved.  A witness told Officers the man in the red hat jumped the fence and stole several containers and put them in a grocery cart.  The man and woman were last seen pushing the cart on westbound Agnes Street towards.

Officers found the couple at Agnes and 18th Streets and found the man to be intoxicated and the woman to be wanted.  Jean Michelle Zapata (07/11/73) and Teodoro Rosas (08/13/59) were both arrested and returned to the location where the theft occurred.  While conducting their investigation, it was discovered that Rosas had Crack Cocaine inside his mouth.  Rosas was asked to open his mouth, but he tried to swallow the drugs. One of the Officers tried to remove the drugs from his mouth, but was bitten instead.   Police were unable to retrieve the Crack Cocaine.  Rosas was medically cleared before booked at the City Detention Center.

Zapata was charged with an outstanding Nueces County warrant for Failure to Appear with No Bond set, while Rosas was charged with Public Intoxication and Assault~Bodily Injury-Public Servant.  There was a couple of items found on the suspects, but it is unknown at this time if they were stolen.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Police Find Children Driving A Car After Midnight Monday Morning

Occurred Monday, September 24, 2012, 00:13, 5300 Richter Street, Possession of Marijuana, Curfew Violations 1209240003

                A 14-year-old girl was caught by Corpus Christi Police as she drove a car at midnight with a 12-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl as passengers on the 5300 block of Richter Street.

Several Corpus Christi Police Officers set up a driver’s license checkpoint at the intersection of Sacky and Richter. The patrol officers stopped 14 vehicles in the one hour of the checkpoint operation. One of the vehicles that were stopped had no one older than 14 years old in the vehicle.

Ten minutes after midnight, Corpus Christi Police Officer Paulo Hernandez stopped at tan 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at the checkpoint to contact the operator of the vehicle and insure that operator had a valid driver’s license. The vehicle was operated by a 14-year-old girl with no driver license and Officer Hernandez noticed a smell of burnt marijuana from inside the vehicle.

The front passenger was a 12-year-old boy who had marijuana in his pocket and was a reported runaway. The other passenger was the 8-year-old sister to the 14-year-old driver.

The 12-year-old boy was taken to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center for possession of marijuana and issued a citation for violation of night-time curfew. The 14-year-old girl and the 8-year-old girl were taken home to their mother and issued a citation for violation of night-time curfew. The girls said they waited for their mother to fall asleep, and then they took the car without the mother’s knowledge. The vehicle was delivered to the city impound lot by a tow truck.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Flour Bluff Teen Found In Stolen Truck Instead Of School

Occurred Friday, September 21, 2012, 9:26am, 14900 Aquarius Street, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, 1209210038

                A sixteen year old boy was apprehended Friday afternoon in Flour Bluff in a stolen truck with illegal drugs.

A 28-year-old man reported his blue 2004 Ford F-150 truck stolen from Aquarius Street on Padre Island at 9:26 Friday morning. The Corpus Christi Police Officer who processed the report announced other officers to Be On the Look Out for the vehicle.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officer Arnold Guerra saw the stolen truck pull into the Stripes store at 9602 Flour Bluff Drive at 12:18pm. Officer Guerra stopped the 16-year-old boy who operated the truck. The boy then pushed Officer Guerra in an attempt to run away. The boy fought and kicked Officer Guerra until the Taser electronic control device was used to gain control of the boy and safely place the boy in custody.

Officers discovered illegal narcotics in the truck before the truck was returned to the registered owner.

The 16-year-old boy was taken to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle (a state jail felony), possession of marijuana (a class B misdemeanor), Possession of Dangerous Drugs (a class A misdemeanor), and for resisting arrest (a class A misdemeanor).

Bravo District, Patrol Division

House Explodes On Gertie Street Monday Afternoon

Occurred Monday, September 17, 2012, 14:54, 4329 Gertie Street, Information, 1209170102

A 63-year-old woman was injured when her home burst in fire on the 4300 block of Gertie Street at 2:54 Monday afternoon.

The 63-year-old woman told emergency responders she lit a cigarette in her living room and the house burst into flames. Emergency crews believe the woman had a natural gas leak that ignited. The house had significant damage from the fire.

Corpus Christi Police blocked traffic on the 4300 block of Gertie at 3:00pm and asked two neighbors to leave their home as a safety precaution.  The house was evaluated by the fire department, the gas department, and Corpus Christi Code Enforcement to determine any danger to the public.

Corpus Christi Police reopened the public rights of way on Gertie Street at 4:20pm to normal traffic. The 63-year-old woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance for treatment of injuries from the fire. No other person was injured.

Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division

Fallen Officer Luther B. Prather Remembered

On September 14, 1919 Corpus Christi Police Officer Luther B. Prather was called to duty when the Hurricane of 1919 made a direct hit on Corpus Christi.  He crossed the Rincon Channel to what is now North Beach a few times rescuing victims of the storm and guiding them to refuge at the Old Nueces County Courthouse.

Officer Prather even brought a few of the victims to his own home near Mesquite and Taylor Streets, where his wife stayed with them. The water rose very quickly in Corpus Christi Bay as the storm hit and while attempting to cross the Rincon Channel once more while escorting a small child and several adults, Prater was swept into the bay where all were drowned.

A true hero, Officer Prather was born in 1886 and had worked for the Department since approximately 1914. Please take a moment today to remember Officer Prater in your thoughts and prayers.

Community Outreach, Patrol Division

ASIS International Honors First Responders

Senior Officer Vela and his wife Espie

Corpus Christi Police Officer J. Vela was honored by the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter #108 of ASIS International.  Senior Officer Vela, a 28 year veteran and respected member of the Police Department was recognized for his work in the community and dogged pursuit and apprehension of wanted fugitives.  Officer Vela’s commitment to the City of Corpus Christi is only surpassed by his devotion to his family.

ASIS International, one of the largest organizations for security professionals is dedicated to advancing and improving security performance.  They have designated September as First Responders Appreciation Month for local Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters.

Also recognized were Corpus Christi Firefighter J. Keller and Nueces County Sherriff’s Deputy C.J. Guzman.  The three first responders were awarded plaques naming them ASIS International’s First Annual Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighter of the Year.  The noon awards luncheon was held at the BBQ Man, 4931 IH 37.

Delta District, Patrol Division

17 Year Old Arrested For Robbery On 2900 Niagara

Occurred Friday, September 07, 2012, 3:00am, 2814 Niagara Aggravated Robbery, 1209070052

A 17-year-old man was arrested for a robbery Friday morning after he refused to pay for a meal.

Corpus Christi Police were called to 3036 South Port Avenue to Las Milpas Restaurant for a complaint that a man refused to pay for his meal and left. Corpus Christi Police Officers were provided a description of the man who they found on the 2900 block of Niagara.

A group of people approached the officers to complain that the suspect in the theft at Las Milpas was responsible for an overnight robbery.

A 19-year-old man said he slept in a garage apartment when 17-year-old Juan Bautista (9/26/1994) kicked open the door with two other men. The 19-year-old man said the three men beat him and stole clothes.

Corpus Christi Police investigated the claim of robbery and discovered enough evidence to arrest Bautista for robbery. The restaurant chose not to pursue criminal charges against Bautista for the theft.

Corpus Christi Police Officers met 18-year-old Derrek Franco (6/18/1994) while they investigated the robbery and discovered Franco had an active warrant for arrest for possession of marijuana. Franco and Bautista were arrested and delivered to the city detention center.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Observant neighbor helps identify possible burglars

September 6, 2012 1:32 am   Burglary Investigation   3100 Catcay   1209060016

Officers were dispatched to Catcay Drive to investigate a theft. Upon arrival they contacted a witness who observed a white SUV driving slowly down the street. The witness said that the vehicle stopped in front of a home and two subjects got out and removed objects from some parked boats.  Officers began to search the area and located the vehicle on the 3000 block of Waldron Road.

A traffic stop was initiated. The Driver Leonard Simmons 10-28-70 had a suspended license and was arrested for that charge. The passenger Gary Lawrence was arrested on an outstanding municipal court warrant.

Officers located two trolling motors, but were unable to contact the owners to confirm the theft. These items were tagged as evidence and detectives will follow up with possible theft charges.

The Corpus Christi police Department would like to remind citizens not to leave valuables in your vehicles. This includes boats which often have expensive equipment and fishing gear left easily accessible to potential thieves.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Good ‘Ol Fashion Police Work Stops Thief

Occurred Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 11:10am, 14050 South Padre Island Drive, Credit Card Abuse, 1209050039

                A 49-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for using stolen credit cards in Flour Bluff.

A 34-year-old man told Corpus Christi Police that his wallet was stolen from inside his truck while parked and unattended on the naval base yesterday. The 34-year-old man said his credit card was used at a hotel on Padre Island. Corpus Christi Police Officer Dean Mays went to the hotel, but the person that used the card was no longer there.

Senior Officer Mays then investigated further and discovered the card was used at several other locations in Flour Bluff including the Stripes store, Whataburger, Auto Zone, and other stores. Senior Officer Mays went to the several stores and viewed the store video records and obtained images of the suspect and the vehicle the suspect used to drive to the stores.

Senior Officer Mays broadcast the suspect vehicle description, a red Ford Explorer with a tire strapped on top, and Lieutenant Tom Nichols found the vehicle at Waldron and South Padre Island Drive. Lieutenant Nichols recognized the operator of the vehicle as 49-year-old Michael Wright (6/20/1963) and knew Wright did not have a valid driver’s license. Lieutenant Nichols initiated a traffic stop and investigated the claim of credit card abuse. Wright was arrested after a short investigation for Driving While License Suspended, No Insurance, and for the credit card abuse.

Delta District, Patrol Division

Restaurant Employees Stop Thief On Downtown Crime Spree

Occurred Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 14:05, 309 Interstate Highway 37, Robbery and Theft 1209040083, 1209040104

                An 18 year old woman was arrested for stealing at the Burger King on IH 37 at Chaparral Tuesday afternoon after employees caught the woman and detained her for police.

The 55-year-old manager of the Burger King found 18-year-old Deserae Garza (9/26/1993) in the back of the kitchen at 2:00pm. Garza was not an employee and the store manager quickly discovered that Garza had stolen money from a prepared register drawer in the store office.

The manager held Garza in place until Corpus Christi Police Arrived. It was discovered that Garza had stolen valuables from customer’s purses hanging on chairs in the restaurant. The valuables were returned to the customers.

Corpus Christi Police also discovered that Garza had stolen cash, an iphone, and an ipad from the place in which she applied for employment earlier in the day on the 400 block of Mann Street.

Garza was arrested for robbery, two thefts, and possession of dangerous drugs and then delivered to the city detention center.