Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of a fatal injury to people in the front seat of passenger cars by 45 percent. For those in pickups, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent since pickups are twice as likely to roll over as passenger vehicles. (NHTSA)
Corpus Christi Police recognized the effort of Lieutenant Brian Hill for his actions to identify a suspect of an attempted kidnapping earlier this year. Lt. Hill’s supervisor, Captain Robert Alvarado, and Cpt. Alvarado’s supervisor, Commander David Blackmon, presented Lt. Hill with a letter of commendation today and provided the following synopsis:
Lieutenant Brian Hill responded to 820 Elesa (Zavala Elementary School) on March 30, 2016 in reference to a possible Kidnapping that just occurred. While he directed his troops to handle the call, he still played an active role in the investigation that was unfolding. In the initial steps of the investigation, a possible suspect was located. Lt. Hill managed the field identification that netted negative results. He also tried to get video footage of the incident from school officials. He was unable to make contact with anyone at that time, but he did not stop there. Lt. Hill and Senior Officer Goce followed up the next day with school officials and were able to locate footage of the attempted kidnapping. Due to that footage, it was discovered that the suspect had a tattoo on his right calf. It was also found that the suspect was in a Volkswagen Jetta.
Throughout the next month Lt. Hill patrolled the neighborhood in an attempt to locate the suspect vehicle from that incident. On May 5, 2016, his efforts came to fruition. While patrolling the area of 24th Street and Ruth, Lt. Hill saw a 2015 Black Volkswagen Jetta that matched the suspect vehicle he had been looking for, for over a month. Lt. Hill stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver as he pulled into the Dollar General store that was less than 1 block from the location of the original crime. Lt. Hill saw that the driver had a tattoo on his calf that matched the video of the suspect he had previously discovered. Lt. Hill was then able to speak to the suspect and got him to willingly come in to CID to give a recorded statement to detectives.
Lt. Hill displayed a tenacious work ethic in his relentless pursuit of a kidnapping suspect. Lt. Hill could have easily let Detectives follow up on the vehicle, issue a BOLO for the suspect vehicle and left it to his troops to possibly locate the vehicle and suspect. Instead, he took the lead and never yielded in his search for this suspect. Lt. Hill has shown his officers, his peers, and his supervisors his ability to conduct a complete investigation and his dedication to duty.
Lt. Brian Hill is hereby commended for his actions in relation to the Attempted Kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl at Zavala Elementary on March 30, 2016. Lt. Hill’s professionalism reflects well upon himself, the Corpus Christi Police Department, and the citizens that he serves.
Lieutenant Hill has been employed with the Corpus Christi Police Department since 1979.
Detectives have filed the attempted kidnapping case with the District Attorney’s Office for presentation to a Grand Jury.
Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016, 10:15am
Location: 1000 Barracuda Place
Offense: Theft
Case Number: 1605250118
Corpus Christi Police Property Crimes would like help from the public to identify and locate a man who stole plants from the front porch of a house on the 1000 block of Barracuda Place last Wednesday.
A 42-year-old man reported the theft of three plants from his front porch to Corpus Christi Police at 5:40pm on May 25th. The 42-year-old man provided surveillance video images of an unknown man who drove a pickup truck into the driveway of the 42-year-old man’s home at about 10:50am. The 42-year-old man told Officers two men got out of the truck, walked up to the porch, and, without permission, took three plants valued at about $150 dollars.
The 42-year-old man told the Officers the driver of the pick-up was an adult male about 40 years old, 200lbs, with black hair, black mustache, medium skin tone, and wore a blue shirt and blue jeans.
The 42-year-old man told Officers the passenger was an adult male, about 30-35 years old, 200-210 lbs, bald, medium skin tone, and wore a green plaid button shirt and blue jean shorts. The 42-year-old man told Officers the men used a vehicle described as an older model Ford F-150, tan in color, extra cab and appears to have a large dent on the back right quarter panel between the wheel well and the tailgate.
Anyone who can identify this man, or has any additional information about this theft should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers is confidential and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn the caller a cash reward.
Texas is one of 19 states that have achieved at least 90 percent statewide seat belt use rate. (NHTSA)
Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2016 15:22
Location: 117 Richard Street
Offense: Possession of Marijuana 4oz-5lbs (State Jail Felony)
Case Number: 1606010103
The Corpus Christi Police Narcotics/Vice Investigators and uniformed patrol officers served a search warrant Wednesday afternoon at 117 Richard that was the result of several months of undercover investigation into marijuana dealing from this residence. Investigators arrested 36-year-old Nathan Gates, 4/21/80 for possession of marijuana. Gates was stopped in the 3300 block of Ayers by patrol officers assisting in the operation. Gates was returned to the residence and the search warrant executed. The search resulted in the seizure of 432.13 gr of marijuana, a Glock handgun, and $3,356.00 in cash, to include scales and packaging.
Anyone with information about the sale of illegal narcotics may submit the information to Investigators anonymously at the site http://www.stopdrugscorpuschristi.org.
The Corpus Christi Police Department responded to 808 calls for service and generated 220 reports for formal criminal complaints from 7:00 a.m. May 31 to 7:00 a.m. on June 1, 2016. These are samples of the criminal complaints filed by the Corpus Christi Police for that time period.
Date: 6/01/2016 2:45 AM
Location: 3000 Reyna Street
Offense: Aggravated Assault
P.C. 22.02 First Degree Felony
Case Number: 1606010010
A man was arrested by Corpus Christi Police after he assaulted his common law wife and his sister with a bat inside the home they share in the 3000 block of Reyna Street.
Officers arrived and were told by the 44 year old common law spouse that the male became upset with her because she would not give him money to go buy drugs. The male grabbed her by the hair and pulled her into the living room. That is when the male’s 18 year old sister got involved and she was hit in the face by the male suspect’s fist.
The male then picked up a baseball bat that was behind the front door and started swinging it at both females. Luckily, he missed both of them and neither female was seriously injured.
The sister was able to run outside and call police.
Officers arrived in time to arrest the male, Ernesto Martinez (09/04/1963), for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Date: 6/01/2016 5:45 AM
Location: 5100 Interstate Highway 37 Access South
Offense: Theft of a Firearm
P.C. 31.03 State Jail Felony
Case Number: 16006010014
A 48 year old man called Corpus Christi Police after someone broke into his vehicle and stole an AR 15 rifle.
Officers arrived and were told by the victim that he had parked his 2016 Dodge Ram truck in the parking lot of a motel, located at 5155 Interstate Highway 37 Access South. During the night someone broke out the drivers side rear passenger window of his truck. Once inside the vehicle, the suspect stole a Bushmaster brand AR 15 model rifle.
The rifle was valued at $1,500.
At this time no suspects have been identified and the weapon has not been recovered.
Date: 5/31/2016 9:20 PM
Location: 300 North Port Avenue
Offense: Driving While Intoxicated
P.C. 49.04 Class A Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1605310165
Corpus Christi Police arrested a male driver after he was found passed out behind the wheel of a stopped vehicle in the 300 block of North Port Avenue.
Officers responded to the call after several motorist had to drive their vehicles around the stopped 2000 Ford sedan that was stopped in the middle of the roadway.
Officers arrived and found the driver passed out behind the wheel with his foot on the break.
After an investigation, Officers determined that the driver, Bruce Davis (11/07/1960), was intoxicated.
The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated and his vehicle was impounded.
Search the website Crimereports.com to research all reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi. Anyone who knows any additional information about these crimes should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2840. Information about unsolved crimes may be provided to investigators anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at 888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.
The City of Corpus Christi will auction 114 cars, trucks, and motorcycles at the Police Vehicle Impound Lot, located at 5485 Greenwood Drive, on Saturday, June 4, 2016. The auction will start at 10:00 am. There are 25 vehicles included in the auction which were impounded for no insurance.
The general public is encouraged to register and view the vehicles for auction from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Friday, June 3, 2016. The general public can continue to view the vehicles from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on the day of the auction.
The vehicles for auction may be viewed online and an auction list may be downloaded from www.siskauction.com.
Thanks to a grant from ASPCA, 22 dogs from Corpus Christi Animal Care Services packed their bags & left for Minnesota this morning to be adopted. This is the largest shipment from our facility to transfer animals to other parts of the country as an animal management option to find the dogs forever homes.
The relocation grant program is funded by the ASPCA and according to their website, http://www.aspcapro.org/relocation, the program provides funding for the cost of actual transport of the animals that include fuel, hotel services, and the drivers. The grant also pays for the preparation for transport like the veterinary care, vaccinations, health certificates, and spay & neuter services. The ASPCA started the relocation program in 2011 for the purpose to transfer dogs from overcrowded shelters in the south to less crowded facilities in the north for a better opportunity for adoption of the dogs.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of animals at our facility which need loving homes. If you need an addition to the family, go to our facility at 2626 Holly Road and find a new friend!
The Corpus Christi Police Department responded to 1029 calls for service and generated 236 reports for formal criminal complaints from 7:00 a.m. May 26 to 7:00 a.m. on May 27, 2016. These are samples of the criminal complaints filed by the Corpus Christi Police for that time period.
Date: 5/27/2016 4:15 AM
Location: 3200 Gollihar Road
Offense: Aggravated Robbery
P.C. 29.03 First Degree Felony
Case Number: 1605270027
Employees of a restaurant, located at 3220 Gollihar Road, called Corpus Christi Police after two men, armed with guns, robbed the business.
The two male suspects, one black a one Hispanic, walked into the restaurant wearing hoodies and gloves and each armed with a handgun. The suspects pointed the guns at three employees and ordered them to walk to the back office. Once in the back office, the suspects instructed all of them to get down on their knees and open the safe.
The employees were not injured, and the two suspects were last seen exiting the restaurant and running north on Randall Drive.
At this time, no suspects have been identified.
Date: 5/27/2016 1:55 AM
Location: 900 Eighteenth Street
Offense: Driving While Intoxicated Third or More
P.C. 49.04 Third Degree Felony
Case Number: 1605270015
Corpus Christi Police arrested a male driver for DWI, after he crashed his vehicle into a fence and a home in the 900 block of Eighteenth Street.
Officers arrived and a crash investigation determined that the driver of a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV was traveling south on Eighteenth Street when the driver lost control of his vehicle left the roadway and struck a fence and a house located at 923 Eighteenth Street.
After an investigation, Officers determined that the driver of the SUV, Roel Campos (01/07/1969) was intoxicated and he was arrested.
The charge was upgraded to a felony DWI charge when it was determined that the suspect had prior convictions for the same offense.
No one inside the home was injured.
Date: 5/27/2016 1:00 AM
Location: 9000 Leopard Street
Offense: Driving While Intoxicated With a Child Passenger
P.C. 49.045 State Jail Felony
Case Number: 1605270003
Corpus Christi Police arrested the driver of a vehicle for felony DWI after he was stopped for a traffic violation in the 9000 block of Leopard Street and found to be intoxicated while he was driving with his three children.
An Officer observed the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban run a stop sign at the corner of Leopard Street and Clarkwood Road. When the Officer stopped the driver, Mark Anthony Mendez (02/28/1981), they conducted an investigation and determined he was intoxicated.
Inside the vehicle Officers also found his three children, ranging in age between 3 and 5 years old.
The children were released to family members.
The driver was charged with driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, a state jail felony.
Date: 5/27/2016 2:05 AM
Location: 5500 Interstate Highway 37 North
Offense: Driving While Intoxicated
P.C. 49.04 Class B Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1605270020
Corpus Christi Police arrested a male driver for DWI, after he swerved off the freeway and crashed his vehicle into several traffic barrels in the 5500 block of Interstate 37 North near McBride Lane.
Officers arrived and a crash investigation determined that the driver of a 2001 Ford F150 truck was traveling north on Interstate 37 when the driver lost control of his vehicle left the roadway and struck several traffic barrels containing sand. The force of the crash caused the truck to roll over onto the driver’s side.
After an investigation, Officers determined that the driver of the truck, David Ernest Hernandez (11/26/1963) was intoxicated. After he was treated for minor injuries at Spohn Memorial Hospital he was arrested.
Search the website Crimereports.com to research all reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi. Anyone who knows any additional information about these crimes should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2840. Information about unsolved crimes may be provided to investigators anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at 888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.
Corpus Christi Police Narcotics Investigators, with the assistance of Police SWAT and Gang Units, served an early morning search warrant today at a residence in the 1200 block of 17th Street. The search warrant was the culmination of a month’s long undercover investigation into drug trafficking from this address. Arrested as a result of the raid were Longino Castillo (DOB: 5-22-90) and George Soto (12-7-93), both known local gang members. Due to the gang involvement and the known existence of numerous firearms inside the residence, Narcotics Investigators enlisted the service of CCPD SWAT to make entry into the residence. SWAT Operators gained entry to the residence at approximately 5:40 am, with no injuries reported to any occupant of the residence or officer.
Investigators seized a virtual arsenal of legal and illegal firearms, including semi-auto assault type rifles, shotguns, handguns, and improvised firearms, sometimes referred to as “zip-guns”, along with over 1000 rounds of ammunition. Officers also seized several homemade noise suppressors or “silencers”, five sets of body armor, homemade breaching tools or “rams”, ski masks and gas masks. The existence of this bevy of weaponry and assorted raid type equipment suggests possible involvement in much more than narcotics trafficking to include robberies, drive-by shootings, home invasions and/or other acts of violence. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms responded to the scene and will be assisting with the investigation.
In addition to the weapons seized, officers seized distribution level amounts of synthetic cannabis, along with lesser amounts of crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, over $3,400 in US Currency, cell phones, weight scales, and suspected drug ledgers. Narcotics Investigators believe that this operation was a mid-level supplier of illicit drugs to smaller drug houses and street level dealers.
Castillo and Soto both face multiple felony charges including manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a prohibited weapon, and tampering with evidence, as well as potential federal firearm violations. In addition, Soto was additionally charged with felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of body armor. Both were arrested and booked at the City Detention Center.
Narcotics Investigators believe this raid will deal a serious blow to the proliferation of synthetic cannabis dealing on Corpus Christi’s west side, downtown and near City Hall. Narcotics Investigators will continue to pursue leads as a result of this search warrant and are confident that more arrests and seizures will follow.
CCPD Blotter 
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