Category Archives: Traffic Safety Division

Community Outreach, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Intoxicated Assault Warrant Issued for Local Man

Occurred on Date: Thursday, December 05, 2013, 2:10am
Location: Saratoga Boulevard at Staples Street http://goo.gl/maps/pOaEp
Offense: Intoxicated Assault 
Case Number: 1312050015

Zalen Martin Ellison
Zalen Martin Ellison

A 30-year-old man was seriously injured Thursday, December 5, 2013 in a two vehicle accident.  Corpus Christi Police Crash Investigators believe a white GMC Acadia driven by 21-year-old Zalen Martin Ellison entered the intersection when a red light was displayed and struck a green Toyota Prius (Green n Go taxi) driven by the 30-year-old man.

The Acadia and the Prius were only occupied by the drivers. The force of the impact caused the Prius to strike a black 2006 Nissan Altima occupied by five people.

The 30-year-old man was taken to Spohn Memorial with what Officers believe were serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Ellison was also taken to Spohn Memorial with non-life threatening injuries. The five occupants of the Altima did not report any injuries. Both drivers were admitted to the hospital due to their injuries.

Crash Investigators believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor in this crash and continued to investigate. On December 19, 2013, the Traffic and Safety Division secured a felony arrest warrant for Zalen M. Ellison(03/25/92).  He is wanted for Intoxicated Assault with a Vehicle Causing Severe Bodily Injury.  His Bond is set at $50,000. 

Anyone with any information on Ellison’s whereabouts is asked 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 found and arrested.

Traffic Safety Division

Police Investigate Hit & Run Crash on Crosstown Expressway

Date: Monday, December 16, 2013, 23:52

Location: 4800 Crosstown Expressway http://goo.gl/maps/X5oF1

Offense: Accident Involving Injury or Death (Transportation Code Section 550.021)

Crash Number: C1308334 (1312170003)

Corpus Christi Police Crash Investigators are investigating a hit and run crash that happened on the Crosstown Expressway near Gollihar Monday night. Corpus Christi Police responded to a vehicle crash with a pedestrian on the 4800 block of the Crosstown Expressway at 11:52pm Monday night. Officers learned that a 52-year-old man put fuel in a stalled vehicle on the shoulder when the 52-year-old man was struck by a passing truck. The 52-year-old man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The Officers learned that the truck continued to travel south on the Crosstown Expressway and did not return to provide aid or information as required by state law.

Corpus Christi Police Investigators from the Traffic Safety Section seek a dark-colored Dodge 1500 truck between the year models 1994-2001 which has the passenger side mirror broken off as involved in this crash. Anyone with any additional information about this crash, or knows who is responsible, should contact the Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section at 886-2690.

Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Wanted Man Turns Himself In

Reported on April 20, 2013, 2:24am
Location:  1300 block of IH 37 SB
Event:  Intoxicated Assault
Case Number:  1304200021

RyantEdgeorgeConnellyOfficers responded to an accident in the 1300 block of IH 37 SB involving a gray Audi and a blue Toyota Cruiser.  The driver of the Audi, Ryant Edgeorge Connelly (07/13/92) was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of travel. The Audi struck the Cruiser head-on.  Both Connelly and the 47-year-old woman driver of the Toyota were taken to Spohn Memorial with serious injuries.

Connelly was released at the hospital due to his injuries, but a Blood Warrant was obtained and a Blood Specimen taken from Connelly.

On Friday, November 22, 2013, Traffic Safety Investigator Marc Harrod was able to obtain a warrant for Connelly when the toxicology report results were received.

On November 25, 2013, at 11:31am, Connelly turned himself in to the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office Jail Facilities.  Connelly was charged with the outstanding warrant for Intoxicated Assault with a Vehicle ~ Severe Body Injury, a 3rd Degree Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.   His bond was set at $30,000.

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

Motorcyclist; Victim of Hit and Run

Date:  November 16, 2013, 01:27am
Location:  4200 block of S. Padre Island Drive
Event: Accident Involving Injury
Case Number:  1311160010, 1311160022, and  C1307905

Police were dispatched to a major crash involving a motorcycle in the 4200 block of S. Padre Island Drive.  Further investigation revealed that a gray Chevrolet Malibu backed out from a private drive and crossed into the motorcyclist’s lane of travel.  The 61-year-old motorcyclist attempted to stop, but struck the passenger side door of the Malibu.

The helmeted motorcyclist was taken to Spohn Memorial with life threatening injuries.  The driver of the Malibu fled on foot leaving the injured 36-year-old passenger behind.  The passenger had minor injuries and also taken to Spohn Memorial.

The accident is under investigation and currently being investigated by the Traffic & Safety Division.  Anyone who has any information or observed the Hit and Run accident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at http://www.888TIPS.com.

Update, November 20, 2013: The 61-year-old motorcycle operator died as a result of his injuries. The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section Crash Investigators have obtained a warrant for arrest for the operator of the gray Chevrolet Malibu. Investigators have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 38-year-old Hugo Quezada Salazar (1/6/1974) for the offense of Accident Involving Death, a second degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Salazar is a welder by trade and has a last known address near Violet Road in Corpus Christi. Investigators believe Salazar may be in a white 1997 Ford F-350 with the license plate BX78226. Anyone with any information which may lead Investigators to locate Salazar should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.888TIPS.com.

Traffic Safety Division

Parking Control Unit Upgrades

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In September of 2010 the Parking Control Unit of the Corpus Christi Police Department began a complete revision and overhaul of personnel, procedures, equipment and operations. Personnel and procedures were addressed immediately to create an ‘Ambassadorship Style Enforcement’ program that was designed after researching best practices of units across the country and then adding a tourism aspect to the mix.

Equipment changes were made in 2011 and 2012 utilizing industry technology standards leading to electronic ticket writers and an upgrade of parking meters improving efficiency, data management, accountability and operational integrity.

Since July, 2012 CCPD began research on upgrading the appearance and transportation needs of the Parking Control Unit. The intent was a uniform and enforcement vehicles that maintained a level of professionalism, while improving visibility and safety. The new look should make Enforcement Officers easy to spot when citizens have tourism questions or need assistance, while also improving the safety of the Enforcement Officers.

For many years the unit utilized golf carts for enforcement. The golf carts appeared as a cheap alternative in the beginning, but after the three-year warranty expired the units were constantly breaking down making them more costly and created concerns of safety. Unfortunately industry standards of enforcement vehicles was inconsistent leading to extended research and finally designing a vehicle from the ground up that would still lean towards cost containment and operational efficiency, but answer the concerns of longevity and safety.

The enforcement vehicles launched today are a first of their kind in the industry. CCPD began using the 4-wheel drive Kawasaki Mule utility vehicles a few years back, but they were still a little too costly for the parking unit. Selecting a 2-wheel drive model greatly reduced the cost and still maintained an energy-efficient vehicle option. Outfitting them with a Parking Enforcement package of light bars, decals and cab enclosures made them unique to the needs of the parking unit. With the Parking Control unit also responsible for neighborhood enforcement since assigned by Police Chief Floyd Simpson, these street legal units will help in that endeavor as well.

“The golf carts, while legal for use for CCPD uses, always concerned us in regards to Enforcement Officer safety”, said Parking Control Operations Manager Marc Denson, “The low visibility and maximum 10 mph speed constantly put our people at risk at intersections, long stretches of streets and in heavy downtown traffic. These new units will provide greater safety and are much more versatile for our current operational objectives, while still being very cost-effective.”

Traffic Safety Division

Police Investigate Crash With Fatal Injuries

Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2013, 7:55am

Location: McKenzie Road near Haven Drive http://goo.gl/maps/mlcMi

Event: Vehicle Crash

Crash Number: C1307419

A 43-year-old man did not survive a vehicle crash on McKinzie Road near Haven Drive Wednesday morning.

A green Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by a 43-year-old man traveled north on McKinzie Road at 7:55am. A commercial motor vehicle driven by a 36-year-old man traveled south on McKenzie at the same time. The Ford F-150 drifted into oncoming traffic and struck the commercial motor vehicle head on. The 36-year-old man refused medical treatment and the 43-year-old man did not survive the crash.

McKinzie Road was closed to traffic from 8:00am until about 10:30am.

The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section are investigating to determine the cause of the crash. Anyone with any additional information about the crash should call the Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section at 886-2600.

Criminal Investigations Division, Traffic Safety Division

Police Arrest Man In New Mexico For Local Hit & Run Crash

Date: August 10, 2013, 20:43

Location: Arlington Drive at Ayers Street http://goo.gl/maps/GrSyU

Offense: Accident Involving Injury or Death (Transportation Code Section 550.021)

Case Number: 1308100114

The Corpus Christi Police worked with several law enforcement agencies and several private companies to effect an arrest of a 40-year-old man in New Mexico for a hit and run crash in Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a vehicle crash on August 10, 2013 at Ayers Street and Arlington Drive. A 43-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman rode a motorcycle south on Ayers Street at about 8:40pm on August 10, 2013. A white Jeep drove through the intersection of Ayers and Arlington in front of the motorcycle and caused a collision.

The operator of the Jeep asked the two motorcycle riders if they were injured, and then walked away from the scene before the emergency crews arrived to work the crash scene. The only description of the operator of the Jeep was that he was a Hispanic man with black hair and a goatee who wore a uniform long sleeve shirt and black pants. The Jeep was left behind at the crash site and was taken to the city vehicle impound lot.

The crash was assigned to a Hit and Run investigator who had encountered a challenge to determine the owner of the vehicle. The Detective assigned the case found the registered owner had a California address. The Detective researched the last name of the registered owner which matched 438 people in the computer database.

The detective searched the Jeep for clues to identify the driver. The Detective got cooperation from the California Highway Patrol, the Riverside Sheriff’s Office, Stripes Corporation, HEB, Aaron Rental, and Jiffy Lube to locate first the registered owner, then several other people to identify 40-year-old Charles Bradley (3/29/1973) as the person who operated the Jeep at the time of the crash.

The Detective obtained a warrant for Bradley’s arrest and discovered Bradley fled to New Mexico. Bradley was arrested on September 19, 2013 in New Mexico.

The Corpus Christi Police Department thanks the members of the community who helped with the investigation to resolve this felony case.

Community Outreach, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

CCPD Neighborhood Parking Enforcement Begins Tomorrow

Beginning Wednesday, September 25, 2013, the Corpus Christi Police Department will conduct a city-wide neighborhood parking enforcement initiative targeting illegally parked vehicles.  The Police Department is continuing with the enhanced parking initiative in response to continuous complaints of illegal parking throughout the city. 

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Police and Parking Enforcement Officers, as well as beat Officers working during their normal hours will be issuing citations to vehicles parked in a manner that is a violation or a hazard.  Please remember, it is illegal to park vehicles facing the wrong way, over 18” from the curb, or blocking fire hydrants, sidewalks, and driveways.

If you would like to report an abandoned vehicle or a vehicle blocking a driveway please, call the Traffic Safety Office at 361-886-2685 during business hours.

Traffic Safety Division

Corpus Christi Police Department Stop Aggressive Driving Campaign

Statistics from 8/1 – 8/14

Total Citations – 1139
Total Speeding Citations – 890
Speeding 20 mph over limit – 149
School Zone 10 mph over limit – 18
All other Aggressive Citations – 36
Reckless Driving Arrests – 5

The highest speeds that we have recorded thus far are 108 mph in a 65 mph zone and 102 mph in a 60 mph zone.

Traffic Safety Division

CCPD DWI Stats

DWI Statistics

                                       Aug.  15, 2013                    Same time 2012    __                            Total in 2012

DWI & DUI Arrest             704                                         628                   UP    12%                         1036

                                                     Aug. (thru 8/15)   July 2013           June 2013             

DWI Arrests Last 3 Months          47                               85                      111                                                                                                                                                          

 2013 DWI  Stats

692         DWI Arrest as of  Aug.  15, 2013

12           DUI Arrest as of  Aug.  15, 2013

151         Suspects consented to gave a sample of their breath

298         Suspects consented to gave a sample of their blood

225         Suspects refused to give a sample of breath or blood and a search warrant was obtained

15           Suspects refused to give consent of breath or blood and a mandatory blood draw was                        required

3              Suspects refused both blood and breath request, and no evidence was obtained.

692         cases filed and in 689 cases a sample of breath or blood was obtained.  In 2 cases a judge                 was not available to sign a warrant and in 1 case the suspect escaped before a sample                       was obtained.

81           Felony DWI cases.  (50 for DWI with two or more prior convictions;  19 for intoxicated                              assault; 10 DWI Child; 2 intoxicated manslaughter)

.17          Average Breath /Blood results from suspects

261         DWI arrest were involved in Traffic Crashes