Community Outreach

Crime Stoppers Rewards Available For Those Who Want It

Vertical color Crime Stoppers logo 2015The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers has rewards available for collection for those who want the cash.

The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers approved eight rewards this past four weeks for the apprehension of fugitives and drugs. The rewards are for anonymous tips which apprehended 34-year-old Mary Martinez on the 6000 block of Bobtail Drive who was a fugitive for an assault related to case number 15002662. A person called in to Crime Stoppers to complain about a drug house on the 3800 block of Caravelle Parkway which resulted in the arrest of 31-year-old Henry Munoz (4/16/1984) for the possession of over 2 ounces of marijuana in case #1506050109. Three fugitives were featured on the Crime Stoppers Wheel of Shame: 29-year-old Felicia Felan (12/27/1985) (Case #15002958); 26-year-old Jessica Garza (10/19/1988)(Case #15003115); and 24-year-old Mark Salinas (4/15/1991)(Case #15003146) and apprehended by Crime Stoppers tips so the reward was increased for those fugitives. A suspect was identified for stealing jewelry with case number 1506010107. Crime Stoppers tips also located two fugitives, Daniel Fretwell (case #1506300147 wanted for probation violation) and Sylvia Rincon (Case #1500350) who was wanted for fraud.

Thank you to all who called Crime Stoppers to provide tips in an effort to make Corpus Christi a safer community. Crime Stoppers knows there are many reasons a person needs to keep their identity secret when providing information to law enforcement such as that the suspect in the crime may be a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker, or some dynamic which subjects a tipster to retaliation. Rewards are offered by Crime Stoppers in order to overcome apathy and to appeal to a segment of the community who are normally unwilling hostile to communicate with law enforcement. Crime Stoppers guarantees to keep the identity of the tipster secret.

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization not funded by tax dollars and gains funds for operating expenses and rewards solely by donations and the organization is operated by volunteers.

Anyone with information about an unsolved crime should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information which leads to an arrest may earn the tipster a cash reward. Anyone who believes they provided a tips that is eligible for a reward should call 888-TIPS on Thursdays to check the status of their tip. If the tipster is due a reward, they will be provided instructions how to collect the cash reward which keeps their identity secret through the entire process.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Police Want Public Help to Catch Fugitive for Arson

Valerie Vela (July 2, 1981) Wanted for Arson
Valerie Vela (July 2, 1981)
Wanted for Arson

The Corpus Christi Police would like help from the public to locate a fugitive who is wanted for arson. Valerie Vela (7/2/1981) has a warrant for her arrest for Arson and her last known address was on the 500 block of Elmore Drive in Corpus Christi. Vela is described as a 34-year-old female, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 140 pounds, with brown hair that extends past her shoulders, and brown eyes.

Anyone who can help law enforcement to locate Vela should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Crime Stoppers guarantees to keep the identity of the caller secret and if the information leads to Vela’s arrest, it could earn the caller a cash reward.

Adam District, Bravo District, Delta District, Patrol Division

Patrol Report 07/09/2015

The Corpus Christi Police Department responded to 992 calls for service and generated 218 reports for formal criminal complaints from 7:00 a.m. July 8 to 7:00 a.m. on July 9, 2015. These are samples of the criminal complaints filed by the Corpus Christi Police for that time period.

“ADAM” District
Date: 07/09/2015       4:55 AM
Location: 3900 Interstate 69
Offense: Driving While Intoxicated
P.C. 49.04       Class A Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1507090026
A disturbance between a man and his girlfriend led Corpus Christi Police to arrest the man for driving while intoxicated.

The male and the 38 year old female were in a vehicle traveling down Interstate 69 when they pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant and the female got out.  The male drove off, leaving the female walking.

He then returned a short time later and the two got involved in another disturbance.  This time a witness called the police and when they arrived they found the man driving his 2013 GMC truck around the parking lot trying to talk to the female.

When the Officers went to investigate, they determined that the driver, Arnold Adame Jr. (11/06/1978) was intoxicated.  He was arrested for driving while intoxicated and his truck was impounded.

Continue reading Patrol Report 07/09/2015 →

Community Outreach

Brother Shoots Brother on Ohio Street

Date: July 8, 2015    10:30 pm 

Location: 800 Ohio Street 

Charge: Aggravated Assault 

Case Number: 1507080150

Just before 10:30 pm Corpus Christi Police responded to a call for a shooting in the backyard of a home located in the 800 block of Ohio Street. 

 When Officers  arrived they found a 55 year old male victim with a single gunshot wound to his chest.    They also found the victims 58 year old brother in the backyard. The investigation revealed that the older brother shot the younger brother with a handgun.  The weapon used  was recovered in the backyard by Officers.  

The victim was transported to Spohn Memorial Hospital by CCFD EMS. When he arrived at the hospital he was being combative with hospital staff and Officers.  At this time his injuries do not appear to be life threatening. 

The older brother was taken into custody and faces aggravated assault charges.  

At this time no motive for the shooting has been determined and Officers continue to investigate this crime.

Bravo District, Charlie District, Delta District, Patrol Division

Patrol Report 07/08/2015

The Corpus Christi Police Department responded to 901 calls for service and generated 204 reports for formal criminal complaints from 7:00 a.m. July 7 to 7:00 a.m. on July 8, 2015. These are samples of the criminal complaints filed by the Corpus Christi Police for that time period.

“BRAVO” District
Date: 07/07/2015       8:00 PM
Location: 600 Sandy Oaks Drive
Offense: Robbery
P.C. 29.02       Second Degree Felony
Case Number: 1507070135
A 18 year old female victim called Corpus Christi Police after another female jumped into her car and attempted to take it from her.

The female victim told Officers that she was driving on Sandy Oaks Drive when she stopped at the stop sign at Waldron Road.  The female suspect approached her 2006 Dodge Charger on the passenger side and knocked on the window.  When the victim rolled the window down, the suspect reached inside, unlocked the door and got inside.

The suspect told the victim to drive her to Yorktown Road.    The victim reluctantly began to drive her there and the suspect told her she was going to take her car.

When they arrived, the suspect reached over and pulled the victims hair and attempted to get the keys out of the ignition.  The victim told Officers that she fought back and was able to physically push the female suspect out of her car.

Officers responded to the area where the suspect was last seen and saw her walking north on Waldron Road.  The female suspect, Meagan Chapman (03/23/1989), was arrested for robbery.

The victim was not seriously injured during the attack.

Continue reading Patrol Report 07/08/2015 →

Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

4th of July Enforcement and Operations

During the 4th of July weekend the Corpus Christi Police Department assigned several additional officers to assist with the large crowds at the beach and in the downtown area.

The following numbers are from the holiday weekend beginning on July 3, 2014  (midnight) and ending on July 5, 2015 (midnight).

3,670    calls for service
534        of those call were solely for fireworks.
557       criminal offense reports were made
10         driving while intoxicated arrests were made.
20         citations for possession of fireworks were issued

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Don’t Let Scammers Have Your Money

The Corpus Christi Police Department wants to inform citizens about scams occurring over the phone that request money.

The police department continues to investigate reports from victims that send “money grams” to suspects who call them over the phone with a scam.  A MoneyGram is an electronic money transfer sent from one party to another through the MoneyGram network. The sending party can initiate a money transfer online or in person from any MoneyGram location. The receiving party is then able to collect the transfer as cash.

The suspects who call usually request that the victims purchase a “money gram” and then send them the information.  Once the victim gives the suspect the money gram information they are able to obtain cash. Victims are not able to get a refund on these types of purchases.

The suspects use different types of the following scams to get money from victims.

The Grant Scam.  A suspect will call a victim and tell them that they have been awarded a grant in a large amount of money.  The scammer will then tell them that they need to send a “money gram” in order to process the grant and have it awarded to them.  In one report a women sent over $3000 in different amounts in hopes of securing a $9000 grant from scammers.  She was called several different times in a few days and told to send “money grams” to various people in different amounts.  After sending the money, she was never awarded the grant

The Prize Scam: A scammer will call telling you that you have won a prize and in order to claim the prize you will need to send them money.

The IRS Scam: A scammer will call telling you that you owe money to the Internal Revenue Service and to avoid being arrested by the IRS you will need to send them money.

The Relative Scam: A scammer will call telling you that they are a relative and that they have been injured, jailed or kidnapped and need you to send them money.

The Corpus Christi Police Department wants to warn citizens that these types of crimes are occurring in our city and remind people to protect their money.  Do not send money grams to anyone who has contacted you over the phone without investigating who is receiving your money. Anytime anyone ask you to send them money to secure a grant, prize, or lottery winnings it is a scam.  The Internal Revenue Service will never contact you by phone to collect taxes owed. A formal letter will be sent to you or an IRS Agent will visit with you in person.  If a person claiming to be a relative calls you asking for a money gram to be sent to them for an emergency, contact other family members to try and verify this story and never make quick decisions without investigating for yourself.

Adam District, Charlie District, Delta District, Patrol Division

Patrol Report 07/07/2015

The Corpus Christi Police Department responded to 991 calls for service and generated 226 reports for formal criminal complaints from 7:00 a.m. July 6 to 7:00 a.m. on July 7, 2015. These are samples of the criminal complaints filed by the Corpus Christi Police for that time period.

 

“ADAM” District
Date: 07/06/2015       7:30 AM
Location: 11425 Leopard Street
Offense: Burglary
P.C. 30.02       State Jail Felony
Case Number: 1507060025
Employees of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC Office), located inside the Hill Top Community Center at 11425 Leopard Street, called Corpus Christi Police after they arrived at work and found the offices had been burglarized, and a vehicle stolen from the parking lot.

The employee told Officers that sometime over the holiday weekend someone entered the Hill Top Center and then proceeded to burglarized individual areas of the complex that were separated by locked doors.

A window glass was smashed out by the suspects to gain entry and once inside a set of double wooden doors leading into the main hallway toward the WIC office area were also pried open.

Once inside the WIC office the suspects ransacked the area, removing a large flat screen TV from the wall, but leaving it behind. Several cabinets and desk drawers were opened and various items were scattered about.

During the burglary the suspects found the keys to a 2008 blue Honda Civic that is used by WIC employees and it was stolen

Employees at the office estimated that damage to the building was over $1,500.

At this time no suspects have been identified and no arrest have been made.

Continue reading Patrol Report 07/07/2015 →

Delta District, Patrol Division

Self Proclaimed Musician Arrested

Date: 07/05/2015       2:30 PM
 Location: 1600 South Staples Street
 Offense: Theft
P.C. 31.03            State Jail Felony
 Case Number: 1507050072
Corpus Christi Police arrested a self proclaimed professional musician after he attempted to walk out of the Sound Vibrations Store, located at 1638 South Staple Street, with a guitar.

Officers arrived and were told that an employee saw the suspect walk into the store and take a brown Gibson Hummingbird guitar, valued at $4000, from the store rack. The man then walked toward the front door with the guitar, passing all points of sale without making any attempt to pay for the guitar. The employee was able to grab the suspect and he was detained until police arrived.

He attempted to entertain the arresting Officer by singing a few lines of a song, however, he was upstaged by another store employee who chimed in.

The suspect was arrested for felony theft.  He was also charged with possession of marijuana when Officers found a joint in his possession.

The man identified himself to Officers as Christopher Deleon.
After arriving at the City Detention Center an investigation confirmed that the suspect’s real name was Christopher Farris (01/19/1991).  He told Officers he uses Christopher Deleon as a stage name. The suspect was additionally charged with Failure to Identify

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Father Arrested After He Has His Kids Commit Theft

Date: 07/05/2015       12:30 AM
 Location: 6100 Saratoga Boulevard
 Offense: Exploitation of a Child
P.C. 32.53       Third Degree Felony
 Case Number: 1507050018
A 32 year old father was arrested by Corpus Christi Police after he and his family were caught shoplifting at the Wal-Mart Store located at 6101 Saratoga Boulevard.

Officers responded to the store after an employee caught a 10 year old female and her 15 year old brother leaving the store with items in a shopping cart that had not been paid for.

The employee said that both juveniles walked out of the store with the cart of goods and were attempting to get into a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu.  The car was stopped in front of the store and a man along with a 9 year old female was loading up items into the trunk from another cart.

The 10 year old female was able to run away from the employee and get into the car.  The male shut the trunk and told the other 9 year old female to get in the car also.  The three then drove off in the Chevrolet, leaving the 15 year old male with employees.

The employee took the male back into the store to wait for police to arrive.  While waiting for Officers to arrive, the father returned to the store with the two juvenile females still with him.

When Officers arrived they were told by the store employee that store video showed the father and the 9 year old girl walking around the store with a grocery cart full of empty store bags. They would remove merchandise from the shelves and place them in the plastic bags that they brought in.  The video then showed the two leave out the front entrance with the child still pushing the cart full of unpaid for merchandise.  A short time later the video showed the 15 year old boy and the 10 year old female attempting to leave out the same entrance when they were detained by the store employee.

The Officers charged the father, Joshua Hancock (08/11/1982), with exploration of a child due to the fact that he fled the scene , leaving his son at the store by himself with a shopping cart full of stolen items and that he was using his three children to assist him in committing a theft that totaled over $520.   He was additionally charged with theft, a Class A misdemeanor.

The three children were released to their mother.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter