Traffic Safety Division

Top Ten Vehicle Crash Locations in Corpus Christi for March 2013

The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section identified Unsafe Speed as a common cause for vehicle crashes.
The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section identified Unsafe Speed as a common cause for vehicle crashes.

The Corpus Christi Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section has identified the locations in Corpus Christi with the most frequency of vehicle crashes for the month of March, 2013.

The intersection of Airline and Holly was the top of the list for the most vehicle crashes in Corpus Christi during the period between March 1 and March 31, 2013 with a total of four crashes reported to Corpus Christi Police. The cause of three of the four crashes for that period at that intersection was unsafe speed. All four crashes happened in the afternoon between 12:30pm and 4:30pm.

The second and third location for the most frequent vehicle crashes in the month of March was at Weber and South Padre Island Drive. The north side of the freeway and the south side of the freeway each had three vehicle crashes. The cause of three of the six crashes reported at Weber and South Padre Island Drive were for changing lanes when unsafe. Other causes for the six crashes at Weber and South Padre Island Drive were for unsafe speed, following too closely, and for defective equipment.

There were 28 total vehicle crashes in the top ten locations. The cause of 16 of those 28 crashes was unsafe speed. The Corpus Christi Police Department urges drivers to observe posted speed restrictions and travel at a safe speed.

The top ten most frequent vehicle crash locations reported to the Corpus Christi Police for March 2013 are:

#1. Airline at Holly – 4 crashes

#2. South Padre Island Drive at 5000 Weber – 3 crashes

#3. South Padre Island Drive at 5100 Weber – 3 crashes

#4. Ayers at Viola – 3 crashes

#5. Staples at Holly – 3 crashes

#6. South Padre Island Drive at 1400 Airline – 3 crashes

#7. Staples at 5500 Saratoga – 3 crashes

#8. State Highway 358 at Airline – 2 crashes

#9. State Highway 358 at Weber – 2 crashes

#10. State Highway 358 at Staples – 2 crashes

Bravo District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Man Strikes Two Houses With Truck, Then Arrested For D.W.I.

A 25-year-old man was arrested Friday night for Driving While Intoxicated after he drove recklessly and struck two houses at 7:40pm on the 900 block of Flour Bluff Drive.

The 25-year-old man drove a green 1999 Dodge Ram pickup at excessive speeds through neighborhood streets and skidded circles in a field. The pickup went through a stop sign at Matlock and Flour Bluff Drive, left the roadway, and then crashed into a fence and into a two duplex apartments.

Corpus Christi Police Officers checked 25-year-old DeeJay Arnold (10/24/1987) and discovered indications that Arnold was intoxicated. Arnold was taken to the hospital for  a medical evaluation and to collect a blood specimen. Arnold was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, Operating a vehicle as an unlicensed driver, and for Fail to Maintain Proof of Financial Responsibility. Arnold was the delivered to the city detention center.

Date: April 5, 2013, 19:40

Location: 900 Flour Bluff Drive http://goo.gl/maps/5Pd6k

Offense: Driving While Intoxicated

Case Number: 1304050162

Delta District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate Sunday Night Homicide

The Corpus Christi Police Department is investigating a Sunday night homicide on Duncan Street at Highland Avenue.

IMG_5189

Corpus Christi Police were called to the Spohn Memorial Hospital at 11:18pm Sunday night to investigate a man who was brought in by a personally owned vehicle seeking treatment for a gunshot wound. The 21-year-old man did not survive his injuries which prompted the Police to begin a homicide investigation.

Police Officers were directed to the intersection of Duncan Street and Highland Avenue and found evidence of the crime. Corpus Christi Police Robbery/Homicide Detectives have no suspect description to provide presently as this is an early stage of the investigation. The cause of death and details of the injury will be determined by the Nueces County Medical Examiner.

Anyone with any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police at 886-2741. Information may be provided to investigators 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.

Date: April 7, 2013 11:18pm

Location: Duncan Street and Highland Avenue http://goo.gl/maps/gNCwt

Offense: Murder

Case Number: 1304070158

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Seventeen Year Old Woman Arrested For Two Armed Robberies

A seventeen year old woman was arrested by Corpus Christi Police as she attempted to leave a store she had just robbed Friday morning on Padre Island. It was, in fact, the second robbery of the morning for the 17-year-old woman.

Seventeen year old Miranda Garcia (3/30/1996) went into the convenience store located at 15302 South Padre Island Drive and displayed a handgun. Garcia demanded cash from the register and left with the money in a white 2008 Nissan Altima.

The 20-year-old store employee called police and provided a description of the robbery suspect. Corpus Christi Police Officers saw the Nissan Altima parked partially blocking a handicap space in front of the convenience store located at 14526 South Padre Island Drive while they were on the way to the robbery call.

Two Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers blocked the ability of the Nissan from escape and the officers found Garcia and evidence of the crime inside the vehicle. Garcia was arrested and one of the officers went inside the store at 14526 S.P.I.D. to check the employee. The 22-year-old store employee told the officer that Garcia had just robbed the store and was in the process of escape when the officers stopped behind her.

No one was injured in these events.

Garcia was arrested for two aggravated robberies, each is a first degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison (but not less than 5 years in prison upon conviction) and up to a $10,000 fine.

Date: April 5, 2013, 4:54am

Location: 15302 South Padre Island Drive and 14526 South Padre Island Drive http://goo.gl/maps/xTxRF & http://goo.gl/maps/zJqr9

Offense: Aggravated Robbery

Case Numbers: 1304050027 & 1304050028

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Police Seek Church’s Chicken Robbery Suspect

The Corpus Christi Police Department is investigating an Aggravated Robbery at a restaurant at the 2900 block of Ayers Street Tuesday night.

No person was injured in the event. Employees closed and cleaned the restaurant when a man went inside at about 11:30pm. The man displayed a handgun and demanded money.

The employees complied with the demands and the man was provided cash. The man then ran from the store and travelled north on Ayers Street.

The man is described as a Hispanic man who wore a black hoodie, black pants, black boots, gloves on his hands, and a blue bandana covered the man’s face.

Anyone with any additional information about this robbery should call the Corpus Christi Police Robbery/Homicide Detectives at 886-2841. Information may be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com. Information to Crime Stoppers which leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

Date: April 2, 2013, 11:38pm

Location: 2901 Ayers Street

Offense: Aggravated Robbery

Case Number: 1304030001

Narcotics/Vice Division

Narcotics/Vice Division Make Arrest

On Monday April 1, 2013, during the course of an ongoing investigation, Narcotics/Vice (NVID) officers were conducting surveillance on a residence located in the 3000 Blk of Elgin St.

As a result of their investigation NVID officers stopped a vehicle observed leaving the location which led to the seizure of 2 kilograms of powder cocaine and the arrest of Jose Hernandez 03/25/1983 for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, a 1st degree felony.

Date: April 1, 2013

Location: 3000 Elgin

Offense: Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance

Case Number: 1304010193

Community Outreach

Officers to monitor West Guth & Labonte Park

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to remind all users of West Guth and LaBonte parks that we will be monitoring both parks throughout Easter Sunday. Officers will be enforcing the city ordinances for parks. Below are some of the rules:

West Guth & Labonte Park Rules and Regulations

  • Park Curfew: 10pm – 6am—City Noise ordinance enforced City Code of Ordinances: Chapter 31 Noise (Ord.No.027440)
  • No lifeguards are on duty–Children must be supervised at ALL times. (LaBonte Park)
  • Dogs must be on leash & owners must pick up pet wastes.
  • When parking allow enough room for emergency vehicles to pass through.
  • The following are not permitted:
  • Littering
  • Alcohol
  • Motorized vehicles (ATV, go-carts, motor-bikes or scooters)
  • Glass containers
  • Fireworks or campfires
  • There will be limited number of portable toilets made available for public use.
  • Customer is responsible for cleaning the reserved campsite area after use and disposing of all trash in receptacles.

Report non-emergencies to 886-2600

 

Narcotics/Vice Division

Narcotics Division Has Busy Day

Officers conducted a traffic stop at Baldwin and Elizabeth. The driver, Gilberto Bustamante (10.22.1983) had an outstanding warrant and was taken into custody. During an inventory search of the vehicle he was driving, Officers found crack cocaine along with marijuana. Officers also seized $750 in cash. Officers also arrested Jessica Gaytan (5.13.1986), who was with Bustamante in the vehicle. Both individuals were taken to the City Detention Center and booked.

Date: March 28, 2013, 18:02

Location: Baldwin/Elizabeth

Offense: Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, Warrant of Arrest

Case Number: 1303280108

 

Officers with the Narcotics/Vice Division served a Search Warrant at 4117 Stafford. Officers seized cocaine and marijuana at the location along with nearly $1700.00 in cash. Arrested at the location was Mario Espinosa (9.2.1987). He was taken to the City Detention Center and booked.

Date: March 28, 2013, 18:30

Location: 4117 Stafford  http://goo.gl/maps/NXIPY

Offense: Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana

Case Number: 1303280119

 

Criminal Investigations Division

Robbery Suspect Additionally Charged

Location of Aggravated Robberies.
Location of Aggravated Robberies.

On March 27, 2013 Detectives with the Robbery/Homicide Unit added additional charges on Leonel G. Lozano (8.27.1977). Lozano was initially arrested for an Aggravated Robbery (Home Invasion) that had occurred on March 10, 2013 at 625 Gordon. Based on surveillance camera footage, physical evidence and witness testimony, Detectives concluded that Lozano was involved in the string of Aggravated Robberies that included the CVS & Walgreen Pharmacy stores.

Lozano remains in the Nueces County Jail.

The location of the Aggravated Robberies:

3/7/2013 – CVS 3205 S. Alameda
Case Number: 1303070166

3/9/2013 – Walgreens 3750 S. Staples St.
Case Number: 1303090025

3/10/2013 – Taxicab @ Whataburger 510 Texan Trail
Case Number: 1303100040

3/13/2013 – CVS 1110 Ayers St.
Case Number: 1303130072

3/14/2013 – Walgreens 2101 Morgan St.
Case Number: 1303140105

Adam District, Patrol Division

Officer Injured In Shoplifter’s Attempt to Escape

A Corpus Christi Police Officer was injured at the 3800 block of Highway 77 when a shoplifter attempted to escape from custody Friday night.

Store employees stopped a 21-year-old man at about 7:00pm Friday night when he tried to steal cigarette lighters and three game controllers from the store. Corpus Christi Police were called to the store located at 3829 Highway 77 for the shoplifting complaint.

The responding officer arrested 21-year-old James Cordova (6/18/1991) for theft, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. The officer placed handcuffs on Cordova and walked him to the patrol car.

Cordova pulled and spun in an effort to escape. The officer had a hold of the handcuffs and her hand became caught in the chain of the handcuffs causing injury to her hand. Cordova then kicked the officer and ran.

Cordova was apprehended from his escape attempt and returned to the officer’s patrol car. Cordova was additionally charged with Escape, a 2nd degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Cordova was then delivered to the city detention center. The officer did not seek any immediate medical treatment and continued the duty day to the completion of her shift.

Date: March 22, 2013, 19:00

Location: 3829 Highway 77 http://goo.gl/maps/z3Jla

Offense: Theft and Escape

Case Number: 1303220137

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter