Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Police Investigate Wynwood Drive Homicide

Occurred on 1/20/13, 2:38pm   Homicide   1500 Wynwood Drive    13012000074  

On January 20, 2013 at approximately 2:38pm, Officers from the Corpus Christi Police Department responded to the 1500 block of Wynwood Drive after receiving a call of an unconscious male. Upon the Officers’ arrival they located a deceased man in a garage apartment.  Corpus Christi Homicide/Robbery Detectives were called to assist and  are currently investigating the 20-year-old man’s death as a homicide.

The motive for the attack has not been established at this time and no suspects have been arrested.  The name of the victim is being with-held pending notification of next-of-kin.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have noticed any suspicious activity or have any information on this crime to call Corpus Christi Homicide/Robbery Detectives at 361-886-2841.  If callers would like to remain anonymous they can call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS.  A tip may also be submitted online at www.888TIPS.com .  Tipsters may earn a cash reward if the suspect involved in this crime is arrested.

Community Outreach

Police Remember Five Year Anniversary of Fallen Officer Matthew Thebeau

Thebeau 8X10

Corpus Christi Police Officer Matthew Thebeau was killed in the line of duty January 20, 2008 at age 25. Officer Thebeau was killed in a vehicle crash on State Highway 286 near Baldwin Blvd while responding to an assault in progress call at 2:50 in the morning.

Officer Thebeau’s patrol car struck a concrete wall and straddled the barrier for approximately 50 yards until it impacted an I-beam supporting a highway sign. He was ejected from the patrol car and then struck by another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. He was transported to Spohn Memorial Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Officer Thebeau served with the Corpus Christi Police Department for two years and graduated from the 65th Academy Session. A park was dedicated and named in memorial to Officer Matt Thebeau and is located at 3221 Richmond Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78410 near Up River Road and McKenzie Road.

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Stolen Truck Used as Getaway Vehicle

Occurred on 1/16/13, 8:03pm  Theft  6101  Saratoga Boulevard  1301160131

Police were called to the Wal-Mart at 6101 Saratoga Boulevard for  two shoplifters who fled in a stolen pick-up truck.  Loss Prevention Officers told Officers they observed a woman tear open a couple of cell phone boxes, remove the security devices, and hide them in her purse.  A man who was accompanying the woman also placed a couple of quarts of motor oil inside the purse.

The man and woman exited the store where loss prevention officers attempted to stop them.  The suspects made a run for it and were able to reach their getaway vehicle.  The woman jumped into the back of the pick-up truck and was hanging over the tailgate in an attempt to hide the license plate from view as it sped away.    Loss Prevention Officers were able to recover the stolen merchandise valued at $189.

The woman is described as a White female, 5’3″ to 5’5″ feet tall and weighing 145 to 155 lbs.  The woman has a small build with a chunky mid-section.  She was last seen wearing black pajama bottoms and white hoodie.  The man is described as a White male, 6′ to 6’4″ feet tall and weighing 250 to 290 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a brown jacket with a fur collar.  The couple fled in a light-colored Toyota Tacoma stolen on Friday, January 11, 2013 from the Sutherland’s parking lot, 4041 S. Staples Street.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com.  Tipsters will be paid a cash reward if the suspects are arrested or the stolen property recovered.

Community Outreach

Police Academy Starts Monday, Public Invited to View Training on Social Media

See who will be in the 71st Academy Session on Monday, January 21, 2013 and Check the Status of the 71st on Facebook and Twitter!
See who will be in the 71st Academy Session on Monday, January 21, 2013 and Check the Status of the 71st on Facebook and Twitter!

Follow the status of the Corpus Christi Police Department’s 71st Police Academy Session through social media and observe the cadets transition into sworn police officers over the course of their training. The Corpus Christi Police Department’s 71st Academy Session begins January 21, 2013 and the Police Department will allow the public a glimpse into their training and experiences through our social media sites at Twitter and Facebook.

The public will be able to watch videos, pictures, and read about their training as the cadets learn the skills required to become fully sworn Corpus Christi Police Officers. The public is invited to participate to check the “Status Updates of the 71st”on the City of Corpus Christi Police Department Facebook, and on Twitter @CorpusChristiPD with hashtag #CCPD71.

The purpose of this new initiative is to share with the public a unique and convenient way to view of the training and requirements for a person to become a Corpus Christi Police Officer. The public will be able to ask questions and learn about our process through the use of the social media.

Please join us Monday January 21, 2013 as we welcome the cadets into training and we begin to check the status of the 71st.

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

Five Vehicle Crash Disrupts Friday Morning Traffic On SPID

Occurred Friday, January 18, 2013, 7:32am, State Highway 358 at Weber Rd. Major vehicle crash C1300408

                A crash on the SPID freeway near Weber Road involved five vehicles and sent three people to the hospital Friday morning.

A 44-year-old man drove a black 2003 GMC Sierra pickup west on SPID and entered the freeway from Weber at about 7:30 Friday morning. The 44-year-old man crossed the solid white line and struck an unoccupied black 2008 Volkswagen Beetle which was parked between two solid white lines on the shoulder of the freeway. The Sierra pickup spun and struck a gray 2007 Ford Explorer on the freeway slow lane. The Explorer then struck a gray 2003 Chrysler Town & Country van which struck a red 2006 Dodge Charger. The Ford Explorer rolled onto its side and stopped on the freeway.

A 13-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, and a 45-year-old woman were taken to the hospital by ambulance from the crash. The unoccupied VW Beetle was impounded. The 44-year-old man in the GMC Sierra was issued a citation for making an unsafe change from a direct course.

Delta District

City Road Closures for January 19 – 25, 2013

Contributed by Charlie Cardenas, P.E., Traffic Engineering

New – Staples Street and Booty Street Intersection

Monday, January 21, 2013

City contractors will reduce southbound Staples Street traffic to one traffic lane through the Staples Street and Booty Street intersection.   In addition, only the eastbound Booty Street traffic will be permitted to make a left turn onto northbound Staples.  No other left turns will be allowed.

New – Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street Intersection

Monday – Friday

Schatzell Street:  From Shoreline Boulevard, Schatzell Street westbound traffic will be detoured onto Water Street.

In addition, Schatzell Street will be closed to through traffic between Water Street and Mesquite Street.  Parking will be permitted on this section of Schatzell.

Chaparral Street:  Chaparral Street will become two-way traffic between Lawrence Street and Schatzell Street where parking will be allowed on this section of Chaparral Street. Motorists are cautioned to be aware of vehicles entering and exiting this section of Chaparral Street at the Lawrence Street intersection.

New – McBride Lane (Between Leopard Street and IH-37 Eastbound Frontage Road)

Monday – Friday

McBride Lane:  Beginning on Monday, January 21, 2013, the southbound traffic on McBride Lane will be closed to traffic between the IH-37 frontage road and Up River Road.  Closure will be for approximately 30 days.  During this period, southbound traffic will be detoured onto southbound Navigation to IH-37.

New– Kostoryz Road

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure) Tuesday

Beginning on January 23, 2013 through January 28, 2013, weather permitting; city contractors will be doing road work on Kostoryz Road between South Padre Island Drive (S.P.I.D.) and Mansheim Boulevard.  During this period there will be various lane shifts and traffic will be reduced to one through lane in each direction.   Upon completion, traffic between S.P.I.D and Gollihar Road will be shifted onto the northbound lanes and reduced to one through lane in each direction.

In addition, traffic on eastbound McArdle Road will be shifted onto the westbound lane where traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the Kostoryz Road intersection.

New – Staples Street (Williams Street to Saratoga Boulevard)

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Wooldridge Road:  The Wooldridge Road traffic will be shifted onto the westbound lanes and traffic will be reduced to one through lane in each direction through the Staples Street Intersection.

Staple Street:  Contractors will shift the southbound Staples Street traffic onto the northbound lane, reducing traffic to one through lane in each direction from the Moore Plaza entrance through the Williams Drive intersection.  Southbound drivers will have dedicated right and left turn lanes at Williams Drive.  Northbound drivers will have a dedicated right turn lane at Williams Drive but no left turns will be permitted.

On Staples Street, from Wooldridge Road to north of Holly Road, there are two lanes of traffic open in each direction.  Staples Street traffic, between Cain Drive and Bonner Drive, will be shifted onto the northbound lanes and traffic reduced to one through lane in each direction.

Bonner Drive or Cain Drive:  Cain Drive or Bonner Drive may be periodically closed at the Staples Street intersection.  Motorists will be detoured into Burton Lane.  In addition, when one street is closed, the other may be reduced to one lane with flaggers to direct traffic.  Once work is completed, each street will be closed for 10 days to pour concrete and allow the pavement to cure.

Sarazen Drive: Contractors will permit only inbound traffic to enter Sarazen Drive from Staples Street, and traffic exiting must continue north on Sarazen Drive and exit onto Wooldridge Road.


Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Do You Have Any Information on This Crime? Call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS

Occurred on 1/17/13, 7:15am   Burglary of a Vehicle   5001 Allen Place   1301170025

Service Expert Heating & Air Condition was burglarized overnight when the suspect or suspects cut a hole thru fence and entered the property.  Several of their vehicles were burglarized in which approximately $3,900 in tools, equipment, and copper tubing was taken.

If you have any information on this crime you are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit a tip online at www.888TIPS.com.  Tipsters will earn a cash reward if the suspect is arrested or the property recovered.

Bravo District

19-Year-Old Caught Vandalizing Phone Box

JohnGabrielFernandezOccurred on1/17/13, 2:32pm  Graffiti  831 Airline  1301170095 

Police were called to the area of 1000 Airline for a man spray painting an AT&T telephone box.  Officers arrived to find John Fernandez (12/01/93) walking away.

Fernandez was found to have a spray can with the matching color as the vandalized property.  The damage was estimated at $250.

He was arrested and charged with Graffiti, a Class “B” Misdemeanor punishable by 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Charlie District

Woman “Moonwalks” Herself to Jail

CoralLiRapeOccurred on 1/18/13, 03:20am Driving While Intoxicated Flynn Parkway/Schanen Blvd.  1301180018

Senior Officer J. Rhodes observed a black Cadillac CTS parked in the intersection of Holly Road and Flynn Parkway despite the fact the driver had a green light.

The driver then turned onto Flynn Parkway and was traveling southbound in the northbound lane.  Officer Rhodes pulled the Cadillac over and contacted the driver Coral Li Rape (06/27/89) who appeared to be intoxicated and unwilling to cooperate with Police.

When asked to perform Standard Field Sobriety Tests, Rape “moonwalked” towards Officers.  Officer J. Sanders placed her under arrest and booked her at the City Detention Center where she was also given a Breath Test.  Rape was charged with Driving While Intoxicated with a Blood Alcohol Content over .15 which is a Class “A” Misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Community Outreach

Crime Stoppers Hosts Luncheon at the Ortiz Center Thursday

The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers board members stand with the police coordinator at the Ortiz Center after the Luncheon
The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers board members stand with the police coordinator at the Ortiz Center after the Luncheon

The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers hosted a Judges appreciation luncheon Thursday at the Ortiz Center in a fundraising program with guest speakers from the Emergency Services in Corpus Christi.

The guest speakers for the fundraiser lunch were Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson, Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin, and Corpus Christi Fire Chief Robert Rocha.

The purpose of the luncheon was to raise money for the Crime Stoppers program which is an independent non-profit organization. Funding for the program is solely from donations and not any from tax dollars. The donations are used to reward those who call into Crime Stoppers to provide information about unsolved crimes which leads to an arrest, and the donations cover operating expenses. Those who do call into Crime Stoppers are anonymous and their information is kept confidential and protected even for criminal trial.

The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers board members are volunteers and donate their time for the operation of the program and to host events like this luncheon. The Luncheon is the opportunity to thank judges for support to the Crime Stoppers program. Criminal law judges are able to apply fees to probation which  benefit the Crime Stoppers program to provide rewards to tipsters for providing information about unsolved crimes.

Anyone interested in the Crime Stoppers program may visit the website www.888TIPS.com for information.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter