Police Chief Promotes Sherman To Captain

Captain Russell Sherman has new rank pinned on him by his wife Claudia

Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson promoted Russell Sherman to the rank of Captain in a ceremony with friends, family, and co-workers at Police Headquarters on Friday, September 21, 2012.

Captain Sherman has filled the role as the Adam District Captain for the past several months. Captain Sherman was employed with the Corpus Christi Police Department in 1991 after having served four years in the United States Army. Captain Sherman served as a patrol officer and then served two years on the police bike patrol. Captain Sherman was promoted to Lieutenant in 2007 where he assumed the duties as a patrol shift supervisor. Captain Sherman was then transferred to the traffic division in 2008 as a supervisor. Captain Sherman joined the Corpus Christi Dive Team in 2010 and received a certificate of merit for his role to recover submerged explosives in 2011.

The Corpus Christi Police Department has 15 officers at the rank of Captain with this most recent promotion.

Police Chief Floyd Simpson hands a certificate of promotion to Russell Sherman as Claudia Sherman watches

 

Two Women Charged with Hotel Room Heist

Occurred on 9/21/12, 01:47 am  Burglary, Theft of a Firearm, U.U.M.V.   1102 S. Shoreline          1209210010

Police were dispatched to the Holiday Inn for a female attempting to report her truck stolen.  Upon their arrival, an Officer found the woman on the north side of the hotel as she stood near a staircase about 20 yards away from his police car.   The Officer observed the woman fire a couple of gunshots into the air.

Officer A. Ybanez drew his weapon and placed the woman in police custody.  Virginia Alexia Caceres (05/12/84) was also found to be in possession of handcuffs, a handcuff key, along with identification belonging to different men.  Further investigation revealed Caceres had burglarized the men’s’ hotel room.  Officers contacted the occupants, who reported two weapons, his company truck, and a briefcase containing a large amount of money were taken.

Officers had a B.O.L.O.  (Be on the Look Out) issued for the stolen truck and it was seen traveling northbound on Shoreline, before it pulled into a private drive in the 700 block of Park Avenue.  The driver Stephanie Fawn Medicine Top (09/15/87) was arrested.  She was also found to be wanted.  The victim’s stolen property was not in the recovered pick-up truck.

Caceres was also arrested and charged with Burglary of a Habitation and Discharging of a Firearm in Certain Municipalities.  Medicine Top was charged with an outstanding Nueces County warrant and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Both women were booked at the City Detention Center.

Several hours later, Police were again called to the hotel by the victim who reported their stolen property had been located by a security guard in a vacant hotel room.  The man’s laptop computer, his cellphone and firearm, along with the missing money were recovered and returned to the victim.

Loss Prevention Officer Slashed with Box Cutter

Nicole Ann Lacour
aka Nicole Smith

Occurred on 9/19/12, 2:53 pm  Aggravated Robbery    5488 SPID    1209190094 

Officers were dispatched to the JC Penny’s at La Palmera Mall for a struggle involving store personnel and a shoplifter.  Upon their arrival, Officers contacted the loss prevention officer who had already disarmed and handcuffed the suspect.

Nicole Smith aka Nicole Ann Lacour (05/25/86) was confronted by the loss prevention officer outside the store after she was observed hiding several pieces of jewelry in her pants.  Smith pulled a box cutter and cut the victim on the hand and chest.  The victim was taken by private vehicle to the hospital.

Smith was arrested and charged with Aggravated Robbery.  The jewelry valued at $39 was returned to the store.

 

 

 

Man Leads Police in Pursuit after Crime Spree

Gumecindo Hernandez

Occurred on 9/19/12,8:07 pm  Evading Arrest/U.U.M.V  1400 Ray Drive 1209190154 & C1207157

Police were called to the Wal-Mart at 4109 S. Staples Street for a shoplifting in progress.  Store employees reported a Hispanic male was observed stealing a pair of tennis shoes.  The man walked out of the store and drove off in a black older model Delta 88.

Officers located the vehicle in the 2300 block of Gollihar Road and attempted to pull it over, but the driver refused to stop.  A pursuit ensued which ended in the 1400 block of Ray Drive where the drive bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot.  The vehicle came to a stop at 1410 Ray Drive where it struck the corner of the house.

Gumecindo Hernandez (07/18/82) was apprehended after a short pursuit and arrested.  Further investigation revealed the vehicle had been stolen from Spohn Memorial. Hernandez was found to be wearing “leads” commonly used for EKG testing and a hospital bracelet.  Officers contacted a nurse at the hospital who confirmed the vehicle had been stolen during his shift along with several hundred dollars in the glove box.

Wal-Mart employees positively identified Hernandez’s tennis as the ones stolen from their store.  They were tagged as evidence.

Hernandez who appeared intoxicated and unsteady on his feet was taken to Spohn Shoreline for a blood draw.  Once medically cleared, he was booked at the City Detention Center.  Hernandez was charged with Theft~Shoplifting, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Driving While Intoxicated, and Evading Arrest in a Vehicle.

Vector Control Officers Survey Bartlett Street

Vector Control Officers this afternoon conducted a house by house survey of the 400 block of Bartlett Street, following several positive tests in that area for mosquitos carrying the West Nile Virus.  Officers discovered standing water with mosquito larvae at four separate locations and treated the water with a solution to kill them.  Only live adult mosquitoes are tested for the virus, so it is unknown if the larvae were carrying the virus.  Vector Control officers have checked numerous storm drain inlets, storm sewers and other potential sources of standing water during the past several weeks, but thus far have been unable to locate the source of the mosquitoes.  Tonight Vector Control will spray the area for a third night in a row, in a quest to eradicate the mosquitoes carrying the virus. Citizens living in this neighborhood are strongly urged to properly dispose of old car tires, and empty all containers that may hold standing water.

Do You Know These Men? If so, call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS.

Occurred on 8/17/12, 11:13 am  Burglary of a Building  901 N. Upper Broadway  1208170069

Detectives with Corpus Christi Police Property Crimes Unit is asking the public’s assistance in identifying  two men responsible for burglarizing the Atlantic Lofts workout facilities.

The men can be seen via surveillance video as loiter in the lobby and then force their way into the work out area.  The men then took several televisions and a small refrigerator.

The first suspect is described as a 22 to 25-year-old Hispanic male who was last seen wearing a red t-shirt and plaid shorts.  He was accompanied by a bald 23 to 27-year-old  Hispanic male who was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts.

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

You may also view videos at You Tube: http://youtu.be/Qbo2YoAf5Ak, http://youtu.be/OG5n0ixHci0, http://youtu.be/W79TrgY1vLE, and http://youtu.be/ejNyEyKkjzs.

Properly Dispose Prescription Medications September 29

Prescription Drugs properly disposed in previous Corpus Christi events

The Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Corpus Christi Police Department, KIII TV and HEB will be hosting a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  This is the opportunity for safe and proper disposal of prescription medication. Unused medications must be properly disposed rather than discarded in household trash or drainage systems to avoid harm to wildlife, pets and people.

A total of 1,052 pounds of pills were collected at the Prescription Drug Take Back Event on April 28, 2012 in Corpus Christi. The event in October, 2011 in Corpus Christi collected 892.6 pounds of pills.

Locations where citizens may drop off their old or expired prescription or over the counter drugs are as follows.

KIII TV

5002 S. Padre Island Drive

CC, TX 78411

 

HEB

3033 S. Port Ave.

CC, TX 78405

 

HEB Plus

5313 Saratoga Blvd.

CC, TX           78413

 

HEB Plus

1145 Waldron Road

78418

 

HEB

11100 Leopard

CC, TX 78410

 

Police Host Business Summit To Raise Awareness

Lori Taylor learns personal safety information from Gilbert DeLaPortilla at the Business Summit held at the Del Mar College Center for Economic Development Wednesday

The Corpus Christi police Department hosted a Business Summit Wednesday, September, 19, 2012 at the Del Mar College Center for Economic Development.

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness among business operators of crime trends that relate to financial crimes and scams. Corpus Christi Police Financial Crimes Detective Stacy Bruns said that there is no set profile of a person who chooses to participate in financial crimes. “They can be anybody.” Bruns explained. “They can be a first time offender and decides, for whatever reason, to get into these types of crimes and they don’t fit any profile.”

The Corpus Christi Police Financial Crimes Investigators organized the event and arranged for experts to provide the information in the presentation. The guests included Alan Bligh of the Better Business Bureau to speak about protecting a business against scams. A personal safety presentation was provided by retired San Antonio Police Officer Gilbert DeLaPortilla and counterfeit money awareness was provided by Special Agents of the United States Secret Service.

Detective Bruns said she believes awareness is the best protection from financial crimes. Anyone who missed the summit and is interested in the information provided is encouraged to visit the CCPD Financial Crimes Facebook page.

A 21 year old man was arrested for creating his own money

Detective Colby Burris examines evidence of the counterfeit money operation

Occurred Friday, September 14, 2012, 21:19, 5902 Ayers Street, Forgery, 1209140147

Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson consolidated the Gang Unit into the Criminal Investigation Division at the end of May, 2012 to share the investigative resources and speed the sharing of intelligence between these two units. The Investigations Bureau consolidation included a new third assistant chief of police position which is currently held by Assistant Chief Michael Markle.

The Corpus Christi Police Gang Unit went to the Misty Winds housing complex at the 5900 block of Ayers Street to serve an arrest warrant of Sammy Delgado (2/8/1991). Delgado had an arrest warrant for a parole violation. The Gang Unit investigators discovered sheets of printed money and implements of a counterfeit and forgery operation.

Delgado was arrested for the parole violation and then additionally charged with Forgery of a Government Instrument, Fraudulent possession of Identifying Information, Manufacture with Intent Counterfeit Instrument, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. The United States Secret Service will take over the Delgado counterfeit and forgery case for federal prosecution.

The integration and consolidation of gang investigators and detectives has resulted in improved criminal detection and quality prosecutions. This arrest for this subject suspected in printing counterfeit money is an example of the enhanced follow up capabilities of the Gang Unit as a result of this new department realignment.

Officer Injured Arresting Wanted Subject

Mathew Tovar


Occurred on 9/19/12, 2:51 a.m.    Resisting Arrest/Assault on Police Officer  3517 Bluebonnet Drive     1209190019/1209190020
The homeowner called Police asking for help with her son who was trying to break into her home.  The woman feared her son was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Upon their arrival, Officers could hear Matthew Tovar (06/09/80) ordering his parents to open the door.

Officers mediated as the family tried to sort out their difficulties, but Tovar refused to find another place to spend the night.   Tovar was found to have an outstanding warrant and was informed he was going to be arrested.

The son asked to go to jail, but quickly changed his mind and began to resist arrest.  During the struggle, Tovar was able to get his arms fee and throw a couple of punches at the Officers.  The punches landed on one of the Officer’s forehead causing a laceration.  As the Officers tried to handcuff Tovar they became surrounded by family members demanding Tovar’s release.  One of the Officers’ fearing the on-looker’s interference activated his radio’s emergency button and Officers rushed to their aid.

Tovar was arrested and charged with two outstanding Municipal Court warrants, Resisting Arrest, and Assault on a Public Servant.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter