Community Outreach

71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy Graduates

The 71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy graduated August 9, 2013
Class President, Bryan Cantu, delivers a speech about the experience in the Police Academy
Officer Taylor Ghastin stands proud to receive his badge
Class President for the 71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy, Bryan Cantu

The 71st Session of the Corpus Christi Police Academy had a graduation ceremony at the Richardson Auditorium on August 9, 2013. The new officers will begin their new duty assignment on Monday. The new officers are:

Gonzalez, Eryca

Brown, Steven

Cabello, Robert J.

Cantu, Bryan

Cantu, Gabriel

Castro, Alexandria

Christian, Spencer

Collier, Jennifer M.

Ghastin, Taylor

Flores, Abby

Garcia, Evette

Henry, Casey

Hernandez, Alyssa

Hernandez, Raul

Jones, Jarred

Labatto, Alexander

McAlister, Katha

McCollum, Alan

Morgan, Sarah N.

Pena-Raichert, Genarose

Penick, Lillian

Rocha, Jose Luis

Salinas, Javier Rolando

Trevino, Olivia

Bravo District, Community Outreach

Bravo District Report for August 9, 2013

Date: August 8, 2013, 8:23pm
Location:  JP Luby Park & Pier
Event: Public Intoxication/UCW
Case Number: 1308080148

Officers were called to J.P. Luby Park for a naked intoxicated man walking the beach.  “Luckily” when Officers arrived Giancarlo Citro (07/07/83) had already put on his shorts.

Citro was arrested for Public Intoxication, but additionally charged with Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm when a loaded handgun was found on the front seat of his Chevy truck.

Date:  August 8, 2013, 9:04pm
Location: 458 Pennington
Event: Major Accident/DWI
Case Number:  1308080153/C1305842

Police were called to the Pennington Street residence when a green Pontiac Grand Am struck the home.  Officers report the Grand Am was travelling westbound on Alameda Street at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and the vehicle left the roadway.  The Grand Am struck the fence and then entered the residence almost striking a guest who had just gone to bed.

The 28-year-old woman was taken Spohn Memorial for medical treatment.   A blood specimen was taken from the driver who appeared intoxicated.   Due to her injuries, she was not arrested and released to hospital staff.  The 41-year-old female passenger refused to be treated by CCFD Emergency Personnel.  No one in the home was injured.

The driver was charged with Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and Failure to Maintain a Single Lane.   Drunk driving charges could be filed pending the results of the blood tests.

Community Outreach

Rachel Ray 100K Challenge Update

Corpus Christi Animal Care Services, Rachel Ray Challenge Update

According to the ASPCA website, the $100K Challenge is a national competition to inspire animal shelters—and those who support them—to go above and beyond to increase pet adoption, reunite lost pets with their families and save more animals’ lives.

CCACS is proud of the community involvement and positive response to the Rachel Ray Challenge. With the dedicated help of PAAC volunteers, Animal Care Services has had approximately 440 adoptions since the kick off.  The increase in the number of lives saved in June 2013 compared to the lives saved in June 2012 is approximately 271 dogs in cats.  You can see regular updates on their website at http://challenge.aspcapro.org/contestants

PAAC & CCACS host weekend adoptions each weekend.  On Saturdays, please visit the shelter at 2626 Holly Rd. from 1:00pm to 4:30pm.  On Sundays, please visit Petco, located at 6418 S. Staples St. from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

To see adoptable animals online, please see the People Assisting Animal Control facebook page and the City of Corpus Christi Animal Care Services facebook page.

Community Outreach

New Animal Sweep Zones to Start 08/10/2013

A Proactive Approach in City Animal Services

PAAC & CCACS Block Walk – Mohawk St & Virginia, August 10, 2013:  City of Corpus Christi, Animal Care Services is dedicated to proactive change in our community.  It is our goal to vigorously address the stray animal and overpopulation problem within our community.  We do this trough the following outreach methods.

Education

Assistance

Targeted Spay-Neuter and Vaccinations

Enforcement

PHASE ONE of this plan is performed by PAAC volunteers and Animal Control Officers working together in a combined effort to educate the target areas.  PAAC & CCACS will perform a block walk on 08/10/2013 in the Mohawk and Virginia Street areas.  CCACS will network within the zones by going door-to-door, attending community meetings and speaking to community businesses.  Staff and volunteers will hand out educational flyers with pertinent information about spay/neuter and vaccination clinics to be performed by City of Corpus Christi Animal Care Services Veterinarian Clinic.

CCACS is proud of the community involvement and positive response to the sweeps across the City.

Bravo District, Community Outreach

Officer Saves Family From Burning Home

Lieutenant James Gray

Date:  August 9, 2013, 12:40am
Location: 7406 Milky Way http://goo.gl/maps/yF9oi
Event:  House Fire
Case Number: 1308090011

OFFICER SAVES FAMILY FROM BURNING HOME

Patrol Supervisor Lieutenant James Gray was traveling eastbound on S.P.I.D. at Rodd Field when he smelled smoke. A check with dispatch showed CCFD had not been called to a fire in the area. Lt. Gray continued searching and found the source of the smoke coming from the neighborhood to the east of Rodd Field Drive.

At 7406 Milky Way, Lt. Gray observed an open garage door and flames could be seen on the ceiling and roof of the garage. After some knocking and yelling, Lt. Gray was able to rouse the 28-year-old homeowner, who was unable to open the door. Lt. Gray kicked the front door open and the man along with his 25-year-old wife, their three young daughters and three other children, who were spending the night, were safely evacuated from the burning home. Two neighboring homes were also evacuated.

Once everybody was safely out of the home Lt. Gray and passerby William Neisser began spraying water on the neighbor’s homes until CCFD arrived.

Lt. J. Gray is a 16 year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department and is assigned to the Bravo District in the Patrol Division.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Crash Closes SPID at Staples for Hours Friday Morning

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The intersection of Staples St. and South Padre Island Drive (S.P.I.D.) was closed for hours Friday morning after a car hit a truck tractor and caused a fuel spill.

At 2:45 a.m., Officers were dispatched for a Major Accident involving an 18 wheeler and a passenger car at the intersection of Staples St. and S. Padre Island Drive.

A black 2007 Chrysler Sebring traveled east in the 5600 block of South Padre Island Drive. The car was in the left lane, which is designated as a “turn left only” lane, at the intersection of Staples. A red 2004 Freightliner truck-tractor was in the lane with the option to continue straight or to turn left (north) on Staples. The truck-tractor turned left to travel north on Staples and the car went straight through the intersection on S.P.I.D. and Staples. The car struck the truck-tractor and caused the fuel tank of the truck-tractor to break open and spill the diesel fuel.

The 43 year old operator of the truck-tractor got out of the truck unharmed and got away from the vehicles as a fire burned. The 21 year old operator of the car, John Williams, also got out of the way of the fire before he was injured. There were no other occupants in either of the vehicles. No person was injured in the crash. 

Corpus Christi Police arrested the 21 year old driver of the car, John Williams (12/27/1991) for Driving While Intoxicated.

The freeway was closed completely for about five minutes while the Corpus Christi Fire Department extinguished the fire and contained the fuel spill before the fuel entered the storm drain. Westbound traffic was opened to travel, but the eastbound traffic remained closed and no traffic was allowed under the overpass until about 7:30 am when the turnaround lanes and the freeway were opened. Workers continue to clean the fuel spill as of 8:00 a.m. and have various lane closures at Staples and South Padre Island Drive.

UPDATE: The intersection was reopened at 9:26 a.m.

 

Criminal Investigations Division

Corpus Christi Couple Arrested For Injury to 3 Week Old Child

Date: August 7, 2013, 14:33

Location: 3533 S. Alameda St. http://goo.gl/maps/p4oVp

Offense: Injury to a Child

Case Number: 1308070080

A 34-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested Thursday at their Corpus Christi home for causing injuries to their three-week old boy.

Corpus Christi Police received information Wednesday about a three-week old boy with substantial injuries at the hospital for medical treatment. The injuries were considered significant and caused by another person. Corpus Christi Police Detectives gathered information and determined that the parents, 34-year-old Nathan Rittgers (3/1/1979) and 28-year-old Glenna Guardado (5/8/1985) were responsible for causing the injuries to the three-week old child.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant from the Justice of The Peace in Precinct #1 for Rittgers and Guardado and both were arrested at their residence on Thursday by the Corpus Christi Police. Rittgers and Guardado were then delivered to the city detention center for the charge of Injury to a Child, a First Degree Felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Traffic Safety Division

Charlie District Report for August 8, 2013

Date:  August 7, 2013, 10:24pm
Location: 4100 Kingston
Event:  Hit and Run
Case Number:  1308070142/C1305819

Corpus Christi Police are asking the public’s assistance to identify the driver of a black Ford Mustang involved in a hit and run accident involving a 30-year-old jogger.

The jogger was crossing the street at 4100 block of Kingston Drive when he was struck by the Mustang as the driver made a left hand turn from the 5500 block of Fresno Drive onto Kinston Drive.  The runner was knocked onto the hood of the Mustang and onto the roadway.  The jogger was not seriously injured and treated at the scene by CCFD Emergency Personnel.

The Mustang failed to stop and was last seen heading westbound on Kingston Drive.  Anyone who can identify the driver or has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Traffic and Safety Division 361-886-2685.  Information may be provided to investigators anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.   Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Delta District Report for August 8, 2013

Date:  August 7, 2013, 09:30am
Location: 2908 S. Port Avenuehttp://goo.gl/maps/A9KDg
Event:  Aggravated Robbery
Case Number:  1308070042

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Police were called to the Cash America Pawn for a robbery involving a man armed with a knife. The suspect smashed a display case and took several firearms along with an undetermined amount of cash.  Further updates advised the suspect fled in a bicycle and was being followed by a customer.  The suspect dumped the bicycle and continued his fleeing on foot.

An extensive search by Officers in the Cloyde Street neighborhood, but the robbery suspect was not found.  The suspect is described a 20 to 30-year-old Hispanic male with a light complexion.  He was last seen wearing gray beige pants, a gray hoodie, and a black cap.

Anyone who can identify this person or has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police Department at    361-886-2841.  Information may be provided to detectives anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.   Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Date:  August 7, 2013, 4:01pm
Location:  321 John Sartain Street  http://goo.gl/maps/5VoBy
Event:  Assault
Case Number:  1308070090

Police arrested Melissa Ann Torres (02/25/89) outside the main Police Station after a call for help was received.  Dispatchers could hear a woman crying and asking to be let go.  Officers were able to track down the victim who reported being assaulted by her girlfriend.

Torres was booked at the City Detention Center and charged with Assault.  She was additionally charged with an outstanding Probation Violation warrant issued by the Rockport Police Department.

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Clerk Uninjured During Armed Robbery

 

Date: August 7, 2013, 12:39am
Location: 5636 Weber Road http://goo.gl/maps/qTlJt
Event: Aggravated Robbery
Case Number: 1308070004

The Texas Star was held up by an armed masked gunman who demanded the money from the register. The robber fled taking an undetermined amount of money with him.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, standing 5’3” to 5’5” feet tall and weighing 150 to 160 lbs. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and white tennis shoes. Witnesses observed the suspect leave in a dark-colored pick-up truck.

Anyone who would like to submit information to Homicide/Robbery Detectives may call 361-886-2841. If you would like to keep your identity a secret you can call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter