Corpus Christi Police Officers are asking for your help to locate 37-year-old Tiffany Smith (09/08/1980) who has an outstanding warrant for Forgery of Financial Instrument (Bond $15,000).

Smith is described as a 37-year-old female who stands 5′00”, weighs approximately 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

If you know how to locate Tiffany Smith, call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at cctexas.com/crimestoppers, it can earn you a cash reward. The information you provide to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

On Monday August 27, 2018 the school year is starting for the Corpus Christi ISD, Flour Bluff ISD and many other educational institutions. The Corpus Christi Police Department put together some tips to remind parents, students and everyday drivers to make this school year a safe one.

Back to School Tips for Drivers

• Observe posted school zone speed limits
• Do not use cell phones while driving
• Stop for School bus loading or unloading both directions, unless it is a divided roadway
• Watch for children who could dart out into traffic around schools

 

 Back to School Tips for Students

• Cross at crosswalks NOT in the middle of the block
• Cross where there is a crossing guard when possible
• Walk on sidewalks
• Do not allow yourself to be distracted with horseplay or cell phones when crossing streets
• Avoid walking routes with construction when possible.

 Back to School Tips for Parents

• Walk the route with your child and point out hazards
• Teach them to look both ways, avoid distractions, and use crosswalks.

Crashes in School Zone Statistics

CRASH YEAR	TOTAL CRASHES	SERIOUS INJURY	POSSIBLE OR MINOR INJURY
2015	7	0	2
2016	16	0	4
2017	31	6	9

 

Most Common Contributing Factors over the Three Year Period

• Fail to Control Speed
• Driver Inattention
• Changed Lane When Unsafe

The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration and TxDOT have some great tips for both students and drivers during the school season. Please read more at:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/back-school-safety-0 

If your child heads back to school soon, you’re likely already making a to-do list: new clothes, classroom supplies, and maybe a talk about your expectations for the school year.  Here’s a topic that needs to be discussed before they head to their first class: road safety.  All parents and caregivers should talk with their children about how to get to and from school safely, whether they take the bus, walk, take a bike, or ride in the family vehicle.

School Buses

School buses are the safest way for children to travel to and from school, but there are dangers when children are boarding and leaving the bus. Over the last decade, nearly two-thirds of school-age pedestrians fatally injured in school transportation-related crashes were struck by school buses or other vehicles when the children were getting on or off a school bus. Teach your child to always:

• Wait five giant steps away from the road and, when the school bus arrives, wait until the driver says to board.
• Quickly find a seat after boarding, sit facing the front, and do as the bus driver says.
• Before you get to your stop, put your phone away.
• Before getting off the bus, look out the door—left, right, and then left again—for approaching vehicles.
• Once off the bus, take five giant steps away from the school bus.
• Before crossing the street in front of the bus, go to the edge of the bus, look left-right-left to make sure no traffic is coming, and wait for the driver to signal it’s safe to cross.

Walking

Walking to school is great exercise, but children under 10 years old should be accompanied by an adult or with someone who will make sure they walk safely. Always set a good example, and teach your child to:

• Watch the road, not your phone.
• Walk on the sidewalk or, if there is none, walk facing traffic.
• Never play, push or shove others when you walk around traffic.
• When crossing the street, cross at a corner or marked crosswalk.
• Stop and look left-right-left for vehicles, motorcycles, and bicyclists. Wait to cross after traffic has passed.
• Make sure to push the pedestrian button and wait for pedestrian crossing signals, if available.

Biking

Biking is a fun, healthy way to get to and from school, too. Teach your child to always:

Wear a properly fitted helmet and make sure to buckle the chin strap.
Always ride in the same direction as traffic and stop at all stop signs and signals.
Plan to use routes that offer bike lanes when possible and that have lower traffic volume and speeds.

• Only ride on the sidewalk when necessary; ride in the same direction as traffic, be careful of pedestrians, and use caution when crossing streets.
• Never use headphones or cell phones while riding.

Vehicles

Make sure there’s a safe driver behind the wheel. Every ride begins with everyone wearing seat belts, using a booster, or being properly secured in an appropriate car seat. Every child rides in the back seat; children in the front seat are 40 percent more likely to be injured in crashes.

A Safe Journey to and from School

From 2007 to 2016, there were 281 school-age children killed in school transportation-related crashes. But you can help keep children safe. Discuss these tips. Model road safety behaviors, including always buckling up in the car, and following all the rules of the road every time you drive, ride or walk. Make sure school transportation safety is the very first lesson of the new school year. 

https://www.txdot.gov/driver/kids-teens/school.html

 Be Safe. Drive Smart.

TxDOT Back to School Driving Tips

The end of summer means millions of Texas children will soon return to school. TxDOT reminds drivers to be extra cautious as school zones become more active and be aware of school bus safety.

Last year, 663 vehicle crashes occurred in school zones in Texas, resulting in zero deaths and 21 serious injuries. August and September of 2014 alone saw 107 crashes in school zones. The most common factors contributing to these crashes were driver inattention, failure to control speed and failure to yield the right of way at stop signs.

Following these simple tips can help Texas children reach school safely and help drivers avoid costly fines and tickets.

 

Tips for Driving in School Zones 

• Put away your cell phone. Cell phone use is banned in active school zones, and violators face fines of up to $200 in school zones where signs are posted.
• Always obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines usually double in school zones.
• Drop off and pick up your children in your school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.
• Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.
• Be alert for children who might dart across the street or between vehicles on their way to school.

 

 

Tips for Children Walking or Biking to School

• Always cross at intersections and designated crosswalks. Look left, right and then left again before proceeding.
• Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
• Always obey crossing guards.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

Let’s work together to ensure that all of our children have a happy and safe school year. 

Date: July 28, 2018 8:00 PM
Location: 5000 Cain Drive
Offense:  Burglary
Case #:  1807280131

Corpus Christi Police Detectives need your help in catching this suspected burglar. Officers were called to the 5000 block of Cain Dr. in reference to a burglary not in progress. Officers contacted the victim and she told officers that an unknown male took items from a shed behind her residence. The adult male is seen on video pulling up in a red Suzuki and then going to of the rear of the residence. He then forces his way into a shed taking a various tools. The suspect then returns to the vehicle and leaves the scene.

If you know the identity of this suspect or have information about this crime please call the Corpus Christi Police Criminal Investigations Division at 886-2840.  Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and provide information to the Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online at  http://www.cctexas.com/crimestoppers.  The information you provide to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

UPDATE: THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED

Corpus Christi Police Investigators are seeking assistance from the public to identify a person of interest in a recent Criminal Case.

If anyone knows the identity of this male, please contact the Criminal Investigation Division at (361) 886-2840.

You can also submit your information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at (361) 888-TIPS or online at http://www.cctexas.com/crimestoppers.

On August 19, 2018 at approximately 3:30 pm Corpus Christi Police Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1700 block of Buford Street after a witness saw a person that they believed to be the suspect from the double homicide that occurred in the 2900 block of Mary Street on 08/17/2018.  Officers arrived, set up a safe perimeter around a residence, and then entered the residence.  They announced that they had a felony warrant.

As officers entered the residence the suspect,  Joe Angel Guerrero (2/27/1989), started to raise a firearm at officers but quickly dropped it. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.  Joe Guerrero was arrested for the Capital Murder warrant and additionally charged with Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

He was transported to the City Detention Center and booked on the charges. This is still an active investigation and if anyone has any additional information they are urged to contact the police at 886-2840.

You may also call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

On August 15, 2018, Jacob Perez (01/07/78) turned himself into the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office for an outstanding warrant for Sexual Assault ($75,000 Bond).

Through the Investigation a second victim was identified; at which point a second warrant was issued and registered for Sexual Assault ($250,000 Bond).

Perez is currently at the Nueces County Jail.  

If there are any additional victims that have not reported an incident, please contact Detective Loraine Mathews at (361) 886-2883.

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 9, 2018

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 30-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to federal prison for the rest of his life following his admission he sexually assaulted four minor females, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Matthew Joseph Lucio pleaded guilty April 3, 2018, to two counts each of online solicitation and production of child pornography.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos imposed the sentence, further ordering Lucio to pay $10,000 in restitution.

Additional information was also presented today, including testimony that one adult and eight minor females had reported Lucio drugged and sexually assaulted them. The court heard that authorities discovered several photographs of what appeared to be young females on Lucio’s digital devices along with more than 24,000 pages of social media communications between him and other unidentified minor females that were sexual in nature. Other images included photographs of Lucio with narcotics and holding firearms. The court also heard from the victims’ relatives detailing how Lucio’s offenses have impacted their lives and their families.

In November 2017, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) notified authorities that Lucio had solicited a minor female via an internet messaging application for sexual intercourse. Law enforcement identified the minor female who confirmed the abuse. Days later, law enforcement received another NCMEC report that Lucio solicited a different minor female via an internet messaging application for sexual intercourse. Authorities identified the second minor female who also confirmed the abuse.

Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Lucio’s residence, after which agents seized several digital devices and located narcotics. Forensic analysis of the devices led to the discovery of videos depicting the sexual assault of two different minor females. Both minors were located and also confirmed the abuse. All four minor females reported that Lucio drugged them before they were sexually assaulted.

Lucio was arrested on federal charges in February 2018 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Corpus Christi Police Department—Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of NCMEC.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/pscand click on the tab “resources.”

 

From our February 8, 2018  CCPDBlotter.com post

 

12 YOUNG GIRLS CLAIMING TO BE SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS HAVE NOW COME FORWARD

The Corpus Christi Police Department’s  Internet Crimes Against Children unit working with officers from the Family Violence unit were able to secure and execute an arrest warrant for Mathew Joseph Lucio, 08/12/1987.   He was booked at the Nueces County Jail on 12/27/2017 with a total bond of $500,000.

Since that time, several more victims claiming that they were sexually assaulted by Mathew Joseph Lucio have come forward.  There are now 12 girls, ages 12-16, that have made allegations of sexual assault against Mathew Joseph Lucio.  The sexual assaults are reported to have occurred between 2007 and 2017.

It has been reported to us that Mathew Joseph Lucio was identifying himself as Kane Luciano on at least one of his social media accounts.  It appears that some of the victims knew him only as Kane Luciano.

Several additional charges of sexual assault of a child and aggravated sexual assault have been added and Mr. Lucio remains in the Nueces County Jail.  His bond for release from jail has been increased to 1.9 million dollars.

This investigation is ongoing and there exists the possibility of witnesses or other victims that have not come forward at this time.  Anybody with information concerning this case is encouraged to call the lead investigator, Senior Officer Alicia Escobar
at 826-2996.

From our January 8, 2018 CCPDBlotter.com post:

CCPD INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN UNIT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT ARREST

An anti-prostitution sting conducted by the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division Thursday afternoon resulted in the arrest of ten women on charges of prostitution, a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and fines up to $2,000.  The eleventh suspect was charged with Felony prostitution, due to previous convictions.  The women were arrested after they solicited an undercover CCPD Officer for sex acts in exchange for money.  The operation targeted several north and west side neighborhoods frequented by prostitutes. 

NVID Detectives were assisted in the operation by Directed Patrol and Uniform Division Bike Officers, as well as civilians with the Red Cord Program.  The Red Cord Program is a prostitution diversion program aimed to provide practical and emotional support for those involved in prostitution. The program is successful due to the collaboration between the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation, social service organizations, the Nueces County District Attorney Office, and the Corpus Christi Police Department.  The program affords those involved with sex work an opportunity to address the myriad of behavioral, social, and psychological problems they have faced throughout their lifetime. Since 2013, Red Cord has provided case management, health services, job training, substance abuse treatment, clothing, housing, counseling, and other social services needed to address the circumstances related to their involvement in prostitution.  Participants who successfully complete the program have their cases dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.  

Seven of the eleven women arrested during Thursday’s operation agreed to participate and were accepted into the program.  Since its inception in 2013, 195 men and women have been arrested for prostitution during these operations, with 88 qualifying for the program, 56 agreeing, and 13 completing the program.  The Red Cord initiative receives no government funding and is supported entirely through donations.  To learn more, volunteer or donate, citizens can visit the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation at www.cbwellness.org.

Although often inaccurately referred to as a “victimless” crime, prostitution is inextricably linked to multiple other crimes including assault, human trafficking, sexual abuse, drug abuse, and the spread of sexually transmitted infectious disease.  Neighborhoods where prostitution is prevalent experience a drastic degradation of the quality of life that citizens expect and deserve.  The Corpus Christi Police Department will continue to collaborate with all government and private entities to combat prostitution and help accomplish our mission of working with the community to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and enhance public safety. 

Three credit card skimmers were discovered and seized over the weekend. All three skimmer devices were located by attentive convenience store clerks or customers on the automatic teller machines that were located inside convenience stores on the south side of town, 5900 block of S.P.I.D., 4700 block of S.P.I.D., and 3800 block of Rodd Field Road.

All three of the devices were “overlay” type devices that were custom made to quickly attach to specific makes and models of ATM’s with double stick tape.  All three of the devices contained memory cards, download ports, and an integrated pinhole camera that was aimed at the keypad to capture the PIN that was entered during the transaction.

It is unknown at this time how long these devices have been in place and there exists the possibility that other devices are currently in place at other locations in our city.  This is an ongoing investigation and we are reviewing video that was recorded inside these locations.

CCPD requests that local businesses check the ATM’s on their premises for any such devices.  We also recommend that consumers who use ATM’s carefully monitor activity on their accounts for fraudulent transactions.  Please report criminal activity to the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2600.

Overlay device found on ATM’s at 5900 S.P.I.D. and 4700 S.P.I.D.

Pinhole camera on overlay device found on convenience store ATM’s at 5900 S.P.I.D. and 4700 S.P.I.D.

The back side of the overlay device found on convenience store ATM’s at 5900 S.P.I.D. and 4700 S.P.I.D showing the memory card and the download port.

The overlay device that was attached to the plastic keypad shield on the ATM at the convenience store in the 3800 block of Rodd Field Road.  The cover that helped the device blend with the machine has already been removed.

At approximately 10:04 am on August 5th, 2018, Officers were dispatched to the area of Meandering Lane and Player Street for a possible explosion of a moving truck.

Upon arrival, Officers and Fire Department personnel ensured that no one on scene was injured and then proceeded to set up a permiter in order to contain the scene.

Members of the Corpus Christi Bomb Squad arrived at the location and determined that the explosion was accidental and resulted from a leaking propane tank.

The scene was deemed to be safe and was released for clean up.