Delta District

Tanker Accident Shuts Down Interstate

trafficsignvehicles trafficsign trafficrig trafficcranesOccurred on 1/8/13, 12:05pm  Traffic Accident     IH37 SB at N. Port   C1300174

An accident involving an 18 wheeler and a pick-up truck shut down southbound traffic on IH 37 for a couple of hours.  The Officers investigation revealed that a Ford pick-up truck attempted to pass the tractor-trailer and lost control.  The truck struck the concrete median and then collided with the tractor-trailer, causing it to jack-knife.

During the collision the highway sign crossing IH 37 was taken out and landed on the tractor-trailer and the freeway.

The tractor-trailer fuel tank was punctured causing the diesel fuel to spill onto the freeway and catch fire.  CCFD Emergency Personnel and their HAZMAT crew quickly put out the fire and dealt with the fuel leak.  TXDOT was called to assist and cranes were used to remove the sign from the roadway allowing IH 37 to be reopened.

Officers report both drivers had minor injuries.  Lt. C. Abbott  stated, “This was an impressive job by the Police Department in quickly closing the Interstate and securing the crash scene. All responding agencies coordinated and worked exceptionally well together in clearing this scene and making it safe.”

Traffic Safety Division

Utility Work Will Affect Staples Street Traffic

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents beginning on Friday, January 11, 2013, weather permitting; city contractors will shift southbound Staples Street traffic and reduce it to one lane in each direction; from the Moore Plaza entrance through the Williams Drive intersection.

The advance traffic control preparation will begin Thursday evening.

Traffic control devices will guide motorists through the construction site.  While the work is underway, motorists should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes to avoid the area if possible.  Motorists are also advised to observe all construction warning signs and barricades for their safety and that of construction crews.  Access to local driveways will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.

For more information, please contact Traffic Engineering at 826-3547.

Delta District

Prostitute Offers to Sell a Stolen Phone to a Client’s Wife

JoseOmerLongoriaOccurred on 01/07/13, 7:50am Theft/Prostitution  600 S. Port  1301070025

A 26-year-old woman called Police for help in recovering a stolen phone.  The woman told Officers G. Alvarez and G. Luna she had received a call from her husband’s cell phone in which the caller offered to return the phone for $250.

Further investigation revealed, the woman’s 25-year-old husband picked up a prostitute in the area of Port and Agnes.  After dropping off the prostitute, the man found his phone had been stolen.

Officers contacted Jose Omer Longoria (06/02/89) at Port and Agnes and he was found to be in possession of the stolen phone.

Longoria was arrested and charged with Theft and Prostitution.  Both charges are Class “B” Misdemeanors and are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.  The recovered phone was returned to the man’s wife.

Community Outreach

City Prepares In Advance of Potential Severe Weather

The City of Corpus Christi continues to monitor the potential of severe weather over the next 24 to 48 hours while making a variety of preparations for public safety throughout the city.

Many city departments are preparing just in case weather conditions result in hazardous conditions including the potential for flooding or high winds. Crews are pre-staging roadway barricades, clearing storm drains as well as notifying contractors to secure constructions sites for potential high winds and heavy rains.

The City urges citizens to stay informed regarding changing weather conditions and observe any warnings issued by local officials.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Man Jailed After Police Called for a Suspicious Vehicle

JoseGuadalupeAngelOccurred on 1/7/13, 10:22pm  Driving While Intoxicated    3800 S Staples   C1300166/1301070138

Police arrested a 22-year-old man after he was found to be driving while intoxicated as they investigated a one vehicle accident.  Officers arrived to find the driver of a Jeep Cherokee attempting to reverse out of a muddy construction zone.  Further investigation revealed, Jose Guadalupe Angel (12/12/90) was driving his gray Jeep Cherokee eastbound in the 3800 block of S. Staples Street when he traveled into the construction zone.  The Cherokee struck a steel barrier and became stuck.

Angel was administered Standard Field Sobriety Tests and a Blood Specimen was taken.  He was found to be intoxicated and booked at the City Detention Center.  Angel was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana when Officers found several cigars containing marijuana inside the Jeep.

He was also cited for Failure to Maintain a Single Lane, No Driver’s License, Expired Inspection Certificate, No Seatbelt~Driver, and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.  Angel was additionally cited for Possession of Fireworks when a pack of firecrackers was found.  Angel’s vehicle was also impounded.

Charlie District, Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Armed “Cookie Bandit” Robs Deli

Occurred on 1/7/13, 9:02pm  Aggravated Robbery  4444 Kostoryz   1301070130

Police were called to the Subway located at 4444 Kostoryz for a robbery.  Upon their arrival, Officers contacted two 17-year-old store employees who reported a “customer” entered the store and ordered several cookies.  As one employee placed his order together, the man covered his face with a bandana and pointed a gun at her.

The man demanded the money from the register and the employee complied with his demands.  He then ran out the deli with an undetermined amount of money.  Both employees were uninjured in the robbery.

The suspect is described as a Black man, 22 to 30 years of age, 5’7” to 5’9” feet tall and weighing 170 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black sweat pants, with a bandana covering his face.

Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect.  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 suspect is arrested.

Charlie District, Community Outreach

Women Robbed While Meeting with Man for a “Facebook Purchase”

Occurred on 1/6/13, 2:12am     Aggravated Robbery     1500 Dorado Street    1301060021

Police contacted two women in their mid-twenties who reported they were contacted by  “Manny” who agreed to sell them a video game.  They agreed to meet at the Dorado Street address.

Upon their arrival, “Manny” pulled a firearm and robbed them.  The females handed over the money and drove off.  “Manny” is described as an 18 to 19-year-old Hispanic male, 5’8″ feet tall and weighing over 200 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a black baggy hoody.

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 receive a cash reward if the suspect is arrested.

Neither of the women nor their one year old who was in the vehicle with them was injured during the robbery.  The Corpus Christi Police Department recommends that if you are going to purchase or sell items via Facebook, Craigslist’s, or any other social media that you beware.  If you are meeting with strangers, do so in a public area and do not invite them to your home or meet them in their home.  Alway remember, if it’s too good to be true, it’s not!

Delta District

Suspect Sought In Deli Robbery

Occurred on 01/06/13, 4:52pm  Aggravated Robbery    2621 Port Avenue    1301060101

Officers responded to the Subway and contacted a 19-year-old store employee who reported she was robbed at gunpoint by an armed gunman.  The employee told Officers a Black male with a bandana over his face entered the deli and pointed a gun at her as he demanded the money from the register.

She complied with his demands and handed over an undetermined amount of money.  The man left the store and was last seen running west bound on Baldwin.

The store clerk who was uninjured provided Officers a very good description of the suspect.  He is described as a Black man, 30 to 40 years of age, 5’7 to 6’ feet tall, and weighing over 200 lbs.  The suspect was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

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 receive a cash reward if the suspect is arrested.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

Man Stymied When He Attempts to Rob Local Family Dollar

Occurred on 12/21/12, 8:51pm  Aggravated Robbery  1519 S. Port Avenue  1212210126

Police were called to the Family Dollar Store for a robbery in progress.  A store clerk told Officers an armed Hispanic man walked up to the counter as if to purchase some items and then pointed a firearm at her.  The man demanded the money from the register, but the clerk refused to do so and walked away.  The store clerk grabbed a phone and told the robber she was calling police.

The robber approached a nearby clerk and again demanded the money from her register at gunpoint.  The clerk was unable to open the register and the man gave up, leaving the store. No one was injured in the foiled robbery.

The suspect is described as a White male, in his early 20’s, 5’7″ to 5’9″ feet tall and weighing 180 to 200 lbs.  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.  Callers will received a cash reward if the suspect is identified and arrested.

Traffic Safety Division

City Road Closures Jan 4-11, 2013

5800 Block of Yorktown Boulevard (near the Staples Street intersection)

Wednesday through Wednesday

Contractors will reduce northbound Yorktown Boulevard to one lane of traffic at the 5800 block between 7:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.

New – Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street Intersection

Monday – Friday

The intersection of Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street will be closed to traffic.  Chaparral Street between Lawrence Street and Schatzell Street; and Schatzell Street between Water Street and Chaparral Street will be designated as a no through Traffic- Parking Only zone.  Motorists traveling on northbound Chaparral may detour onto eastbound Lawrence Street to Water Street; and the westbound traffic on Schatzell may detour onto Water Street.

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

Monday – Friday

James Street and Erin Drive:  Erin Drive will be closed at the McBride intersection.  Access to James Street and Erin Drive will be through the IH-37 frontage road, and both streets – James and Erin – will be closed to through traffic. 

McBride Lane:  McBride Lane will be closed to traffic between IH-37 frontage road and Hampshire Road.  Eastbound traffic on IH-37 frontage road will be detour onto to southbound Navigation Boulevard, onto westbound Leopard Street, to McBride Lane.   Traffic on McBride Lane will be detoured onto westbound Hampshire Road to South Padre Island Drive.

Sanitary Sewer Line Inspection and Cleaning

Tuesday

Beginning November 13, 2012, contractors will be doing Sanitary Sewer Line Inspection and Cleaning on various streets throughout the City to include Everhart Road, Gollihar Road, and Hugo Drive.  Expect various lane closures.

Kostoryz Road

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Northbound Kostoryz Road traffic will be shifted onto the southbound lanes between S.P.I.D. and Sunnybrook Road, and again shifted onto the northbound lanes approximately 500 feet past Sunnybrook. Traffic, on these two sections of Kostoryz Road, will be reduced to one lane of traffic 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.

Staples Street (Williams Street to Saratoga Boulevard)

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

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

New – Bonner Drive and Cain Drive:  Beginning Wednesday, December 27, contractors will close either Bonner Drive or Cain Drive at the intersection of Staples Street.  When closed, detours will be through Burton Lane.

Staples Street will have the center lane closed to traffic with two lanes of traffic open in each direction beginning north of Wooldridge Road to Holly Road.

Staples Street traffic between Holly Road and Curtis Clark Drive will be shifted onto the northbound lanes and traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

Sarazen Drive from Staples Street to Wooldridge Road

Saturday – Monday

Beginning December 17, 2012, contractors permit only inbound traffic to enter Sarazen from Staples Street.  Traffic exiting must head continue north on Sarazen and exit onto Wooldridge Road.

Rodd Field Road and Williams Drive

Saturday – Monday

Road work on Rodd Field Road at the Williams Drive intersection has been delayed until after the holiday season.  Work is scheduled to begin on January 2, 2013, weather permitting.  During the holiday season, No Left Turns onto Williams Drive from northbound Rodd Field Road will still be enforced.

Up River Road

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

The westbound traffic on Up River Road will be closed to traffic and the eastbound traffic will remain one-way traffic between Dunn-Meany Road and Dunn Lane.  In addition, Up River Road westbound traffic will be detoured onto southbound Dunn Lane, onto southbound Navigation Boulevard, onto the westbound IH-37 frontage road, onto northbound Dunn-Meany Road to Up River Road.

Bear Lane 

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Bear Lane will be closed to through traffic from approximately 200’ west of Flato Road to Fortune Drive.  In addition, Bear Lane will be closed from Green Point Drive to Old Brownsville Road, and on closed on Navigation Boulevard from Agnes Road to Old Brownsville Road.

Airline Road

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Traffic on Airline Road is closed to traffic between Wall Street and Rodd Field Road.  In addition, eastbound traffic on Lipes Boulevard and Slough Road will be closed between Giants Drive and Rodd Field Road.   Eastbound Lipes Boulevard traffic will be detoured north on to Giants Drive, and eastbound Wall Street traffic will be detoured northbound onto Airline Road.

Staples Street and Weber Road/Doddridge Street

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

Beginning on Friday, November 2, 2012, and for approximately six weeks, weather permitting; City contractors will be doing road work on Staples Street between Weber Road/Doddridge Street intersection and Peerman Place. As this project is ongoing, southbound traffic on this section of Staples Street will be shifted onto the northbound lane and traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.  No left turns will be permitted onto Doddridge from Staples.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter