Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division

Police Arrest Murder Suspect On Staples Street

Occurred Saturday, December 15, 2012, 11:23am, 5858 South Padre Island Drive, Homicide, 1212150072

A man was found with a fatal injury Saturday at the Sunrise Mall and a 39-year-old man has been detained by police.

Mall security staff discovered a man believed to be 60-65 years of age in the restroom of the mall with an obvious injury. Corpus Christi Police were in very close proximity because of the Holiday Initiative and arrived before any medical assistance. The fast response from the Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers allowed them to develop a description of a person they believed caused the man’s injury.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers in the area were able to locate and detain a 39-year-old man on the 5000 block of Staples Street.
An ambulance crew arrived and determined that the man died from his injuries. Corpus Christi Police Robbery/Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and continue to collect and gather information and evidence.

39-year-old George Viera (8/25/1973) was arrested for Murder, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia and delivered to the city detention center.

Detectives express gratitude to the great work provided by the Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers who quickly responded and apprehended a person believed to be responsible. The Corpus Christi Police Holiday Initiative is a saturation of extra patrol officers in shopping areas who work with security companies and store employees to reduce the risk of crime.

The public is encouraged to report any unusual activity to police immediately so that a quick response will further reduce risk of crime and enhance the ability to quickly capture suspects.

Anyone with any additional information about this crime are encouraged to call the Corpus Christi Police at 886-2841.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate 2 Robberies On McArdle

Occurred Saturday, December 15, 2012, 1:00am, 7526 McArdle, Aggravated Robbery, 1212150004

                Two men threatened a store clerk with a tire iron and stole items from a store near the intersection of Ennis Joslin and McArdle Saturday morning.

No person was injured in the event. Two men went into the store at about 1:00am in the morning and displayed a tire iron to the store clerk. The men had bandanas that covered their faces and they demanded the cash drawer be opened. The store clerk was cleaning the store when the two men entered, and the store clerk was able to leave the store to safety.

The two men took lottery tickets from the store, and then ran into a nearby apartment complex. One of the men responsible for this crime is described as a male who wore all black with a black bandana and gloves and held a tire tool. The second man responsible for the crime is described as a man who wore a white pullover sweater, black pants, and a black bandana.

Corpus Christi Police were later called to another robbery in the same area at Nile and McArdle at 6:00am where a woman reported two men who wore black hoodies took her purse by force and ran into a nearby apartment complex.  The men did not display any weapon to the woman and she was not injured.

Anyone with any additional information about these crimes should call Corpus Christi Police at 886-2841. Information may be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate Murder At Lounge On South Water Street

Occurred Saturday, December 15, 2012, 3:36am, 505 South Water Street, Homicide 1212150028

                A 29-year-old man was fatally injured Saturday morning after a disturbance at the Smokin Waves Lounge at 505 S. Water Street.

A crowd met at the Lounge Saturday morning and a disturbance happened among the group. One man from the group walked away from the group, and then presented a pistol and discharged the firearm in the direction of the crowd. The man who discharged the firearm then left in a red Dodge Durango.

One man was injured in event. The injured 29-year-old man was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he died from the injury.

Police began a search for a Hispanic man between 20-29 years of age who wore a short sleeve button up red plaid shirt and blue jeans and was last seen in a red Dodge Durango truck.

Anyone with additional information should call the Corpus Christi Police at 886-2841. Information may be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888TIPS.com.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Police Investigate Threats on Williams Drive

Occurred Friday, December 14, 2012, 10:45am, 5830 Williams Drive, Terroristic Threats 1212140057

                Corpus Christi Police are investigating a threat made to the staff at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Friday morning.

An employee received a telephone call just before 10:30am from a man who made threats which prompted the staff to lock down the school. Corpus Christi Police responded to the area to provide additional security. Other area school districts were called to inform them of the threat.

The person who called in the threat has not yet been apprehended. Corpus Christi Police request anyone with any information to identify or locate the person responsible to call Corpus Christi Police at (361) 886-2600.

Traffic Safety Division

City Road Closures for December 15-21, 2012

New – Tuloso Road and Suntide Road (between IH-37 and Up River Road)

Friday and Saturday

Contractors will close both Tuloso Road and Suntide Road between IH-37 frontage road and Up River Road beginning Friday, December 14, and Saturday December 15, 2012.  Motorists will use Clarkwood Road as the detour for IH-37 and Up River Road.

Bronco Road (Between Highway 44 and Sedwick Road)

Tuesday – Friday

City work crews will Bronco Road to through traffic beginning December 11, 2012 for four days.  Bronco will be closed to traffic at the Sedwick Road intersection, and open to thru traffic at the Highway 44 intersection.

New – Chaparral Street and Schatzell Street Intersection

Monday – Friday

On December 17, 2012, weather permitting; contractors will begin preparation for the city’s Chaparral Street Improvement Project.   As this phase is ongoing, crews will be placing traffic control signs and mobilizing materials.

North Beach Burleson Road between Surfside and Timon

Monday – Friday

Beginning December 3, 2012 through December 14, 2012, weather permitting; contractors will be doing sidewalk repairs on Burleson Street between Surfside Boulevard and Timon Boulevard.

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.

Leopard Street Westbound between Warpath Street and Lois Lane

Monday – Friday

Beginning on Thursday, November 29, 2012, and for approximately two weeks, weather permitting; city contractors will be doing hydro excavation along westbound Leopard Street between Warpath Street and Lois Lane.  During this period, westbound Leopard Street traffic will be periodically reduced to one lane of traffic between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. each day.

Sanitary Sewer Line Inspection and Cleaning

Tuesday

Beginning November 13, 2012, contractors will be doing Sanitary Sewer Line Inspection and Cleaning on various city streets 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.

New -Staples Street (Williams Street to Saratoga Boulevard)

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

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.

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.

New – Sarazen Drive from Staples Street to Wooldridge Road

Saturday – Monday

Beginning December 17, 2012, contractors will close Sarazen Drive to through traffic at both the Staples Street intersection, and Wooldridge Road intersection.

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 

New – 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 Cousteau Lane and Walls Street.  The southbound traffic detour to Cimarron Boulevard is though Cousteau Lane, onto southbound Paris Drive to La Bianca Drive; while at the same time, the northbound Airline traffic detour to Walls Street is through westbound Lipes Boulevard, onto northbound Giants Drive to Walls Street.  Residents on Sonoma Drive and Mendocino Drive will be detoured onto eastbound Vineyard Drive, onto southbound Nacogdoches Drive, onto eastbound Brooke Road to Rodd Field Road.   Airline Road between Lipes Boulevard and Rodd Field has been closed.

Staples Street and Weber Road/Doddridge Street

Saturday – Friday (24-hour closure)

New – 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.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Sleeping Driver Causes Crash at Kostoryz and Saratoga

Occurred Friday, December 14, 2012, 1:13am, Kostoryz Road at Saratoga Boulevard, Major Vehicle Crash C1209459

                A 25-year-old man caused a crash at the intersection of Kostoryz Road and Saratoga Boulevard Friday morning after he fell asleep at the wheel.

A 25-year-old man drove a black 2013 Chevrolet Silverado south on Kostoryz Road at 1:13 am. The man fell asleep and went through the red light. The Silverado then struck a white 1999 Cadillac Fleetwood 4 door car and injured the two male occupants of the Cadillac.

The two injured men were both 23 years old and were treated at the scene by an ambulance crew but not taken to the hospital. Both the Silverado and the Cadillac were towed due to damage.

The 25-year-old man who caused the crash received a traffic citation for running the red light and released at the scene. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Police Catch Burglar With Shirt Over Head on SPID

Occurred Thursday, December 13, 2012, 23:44, 3487 South Padre Island Drive, Burglary 1212140002

                A 34-year-old man was arrested Friday morning for burglary after he went to a mechanic shop on South Padre Island Drive after hours and stole items from vehicles.

Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officers responded to an alarm at the Great State Transmissions at 11:44pm on Thursday night. A patrol officer saw a man with in the fenced area of the business. The man, 34-year-old Bruce Garcia (9/28/1978) had his shirt pulled up so that the collar was over his head in an attempt to conceal his identify.

Garcia saw the officer and walked away but was stopped by two other patrol officers. Officers discovered about $390 worth of property taken from three vehicles and gathered in one spot.

The manager of the business arrived and verified that no person had consent to be on the property at that time and the property was taken from the vehicles without permission.

Garcia, an unemployed man, was arrested for burglary of a vehicle (a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine) and for criminal trespass (a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine). Garcia was then delivered to the city detention center.

Adam District, Traffic Safety Division

Utility Work Will Affect Traffic on Tuloso Road and Suntide Road

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents that beginning Friday, December 14, 2012 and Saturday, December 15, 2012, weather permitting; Pipeline Drivers will close both Tuloso Road and Suntide Road to traffic between Up-River Road to IH-37 westbound frontage road.  Contractors will be begin the closure at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, and are scheduled to work until 6:00 P.M. Saturday evening.

Motorists who are traveling on Up River Road or westbound on IH-37 access road will be detoured onto Clarkwood Road.

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.

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

Road and Sidewalk Construction Affects Traffic on Sarazan Drive

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises citizens beginning December 17, 2012 and for approximately 10 days, weather permitting; city contractors will be doing road and sidewalk construction on Sarazen Drive.  During this period, Sarazen Drive will be closed at the Staples Street intersection, and open to through traffic at the Wooldridge Road intersection.

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.

View more at www.cctexas.com/engineering

Email:  engineering@cctexas.com

Gang Unit

CCPD Gang Unit Arrests Subjected Wanted for Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon

Occurred on 12/12/12   16:44       Aggravated Assault Warrant        4500 Moravian     121208139

Officer from the Corpus Christi Police Departments Gang Unit located and arrested wanted subject Jose Erebia 04/09/94 in connection with a shooting that occurred on 12/08/12 at Gloria Hicks Elementary School that left 3 males injured. The victims were aged 15, 17 and 27 and were on or near the basketball court when the shooting took place. None of the injuries were life threatening.

This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with any information on this shooting is asked to call Corpus Christi Detectives at 361-886-2841 or if the caller wishes to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter