Adam District, Traffic Safety Division

Crash Disrupts Lunch Time Traffic On Freeway

Occurred Thursday, August 30, 2012, 11:25am, 1500 State Highway 358 northbound at Agnes Street, Major Vehicle Crash, C1206584

A traffic crash disrupted lunch time traffic on North Padre Island Drive at Agnes Thursday. Minor injuries were reported after the front axle was torn from a truck.

A white Ford F-150 pickup changed lanes when unsafe in front of a white 2001 International Harvester Scout commercial vehicle. The Scout truck braked and turned into the concrete divider on the freeway which caused the front axle to tear from the truck.

Each of the trucks had only the operator as occupants with no passengers. Minor injuries were reported.

A third vehicle, a white 2000 Nissan Maxima four door car with 3 occupants, struck the truck that hit the retaining wall.

The White Ford F-150 left the scene without providing information as required. Police Crash Investigators request the public call 886-2690 with any information that can identify or locate the operator of the F-150.

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Family Member Finds Missing 12 Year Old Child

Occurred Thursday, August 30, 2012, 11:57am, 1200 South Port Returned Missing Child 1208280161

Cameron Hernandez, the 12-year-old child girl reported missing since Tuesday, was found by her aunt at the 1200 block of South Port Avenue Thursday at noon.

The aunt posted flyers after she heard tips from the public that the 12-year-old girl was sighted in the area of Port and Morgan. The aunt then saw the 12-year-old girl walk in the area and then phoned police.

The 12-year-old is safe and taken to Driscoll Children’s Hospital as a precaution. The family has been notified and is with the child. Detectives continue to investigate this event and have not provided any conclusion other than the child is safe.

The Corpus Christi Police Department thanks the public for the information provided to locate the child.

Adam District, Patrol Division

Wanted Felon Arrested Eating Dinner When Recognized By Off Duty Police Officer

Occurred Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 22:00 10514 Leopard Street Warrant Service 1208290142

A known gang member was arrested after he was recognized by an off duty Peace Officer eating dinner at a restaurant Wednesday night.

Corpus Christi Police were called to Big Sam’s at 10:00 pm to serve a warrant for arrest on a known gang member, 48-year-old Felix Zapata Jr. (8/17/1964) who was identified as likely armed and dangerous. An off duty peace officer recognized Zapata when the officer had dinner at the restaurant. The officer knew Zapata had an active arrant for arrest and called police to effect the arrest.

Zapata had warrants for his arrest for a parole violation for Possession of Cocaine and a felony warrant for failure to appear for court. Officers found in Zapata’s pants pockets several sandwich bags that contained a white powder believed to be cocaine.

Zapata was delivered to the city detention center for the two warrants for arrest and a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Man Shocked After His Entry To Club Was Refused

Occurred Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 1:56am, 4653 Everhart Road, Public Intoxication 1208290008

A 21-year-old man was arrested for public intoxication when he refused to leave a night club and then he fought with police officers.

Two Corpus Christi Police Officers refused to allow 21-year-old Anthony Parker (10/29/1990) to enter a night club near closing time because the officers recognized Parker was intoxicated. Parker yelled at the officers and argued that the officers have no authority to tell him he was drunk. Parker then took an aggressive stance and balled his fists which prompted the officers to decide Parker must be arrested for public intoxication to prevent any injury to anyone.

The officers told Parker he was under arrest and attempted to place Parkers hands behind his back to apply handcuffs. Parker struggled with officers until Parker was exposed to the Taser electronic control device.

Parker then complied with officers instructions and was taken to the city detention center.

Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division

Suspect in Several Auto Burglaries Arrested

On 8/28/12, Officers responded to an auto burglary at Seaside Villa Apartment, 1011 Ennis Joslin in which a black Ford pick-up truck was used as the getaway vehicle.  The victim reported a cd player was taken from a Mercury Mountaineer.  On 8/23/12, a blue Mitsubishi Eclipse was also burglarized; taken was a backpack and cosmetology kit.

The Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force was able to explore all criminal activity involving the same vehicle and identify two suspects.  ATTF Detectives were able to link Robert Benavidez (03/23/92) and his girlfriend to the multiple burglaries throughout the city.

Benavidez was arrested at 1122 Shiels by Corpus Christi Police and the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force.  He was charged with the outstanding Parole Warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance and Resisting Arrest.  The case is ongoing and the Benavidez could face additional charges.

Charlie District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Gas Leak Stops Traffic On Staples Street

 

Occurred Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 14:33, 3800 Staples Street, Traffic disruption

Staples Street from Dody Street to Coral Place was closed to traffic and residents were asked to shelter in place Wednesday afternoon to protect everyone from injury as a result of a gas leak.
Corpus Christi city resources including the Corpus Christi Police Department were summoned to the 1000 block of Hamlin Street at 2:33pm Wednesday afternoon because a two-inch gas line was punctured by a digging crew. Hamlin Middle School, Wilson Elementary School, and area residents were immediately asked to shelter in place. The shelter request was lifted for those up wind when the risk was evaluated. The schools dismissed on time.
Some residents on the 1000 block of driftwood were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported. The gas leak was stopped at 4:23pm and Staples Street was re-opened while city crews worked to repair damaged pipes.

Bravo District, Community Outreach, Patrol Division

Corpus Christi Police Start Marine Safety Patrol

 

Corpus Christi Police Officers Jon McGinley (left) and Josh Swain (right) now serve as Marine Safety Enforcement Officers in cooperation with Game Warden Jimmy Lindsey (center)

 

The Corpus Christi boaters will see an additional police presence this Labor Day Weekend.

Corpus Christi Police Officers Josh Swain and Jon McGinley have recently been trained and certified by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as Marine Safety Enforcement Officers. These Corpus Christi Police Officers now have the ability to enforce all safety laws from the Water Safety Act and will patrol the water ways in Corpus Christi.

The Marine Safety Enforcement Officers will address the loud noise complaints from boats, speeding and hazardous boat operations, hunting and fishing violations, and boating while intoxicated violations.

The training and the equipment for this effort has been in cooperation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Corpus Christi Gulf Beach Rescue at no additional cost to taxpayers. The officers work in cooperation with Game Wardens for the purpose to promote water safety in the Corpus Christi area.

Corpus Christi has miles of waterfront property that include the Corpus Christi Marina, North Beach, Corpus Christi Bay, the Canals of Tropic Isles in Flour Bluff, the Canals of Padre Isles on Padre Island, the Intracoastal Waterway, the recreational ski basin, and the Corpus Christi jurisdiction reaches 3 miles off shore in the Gulf Coast waters off Padre Island.

The new Corpus Christi Police Marine Safety Enforcement Officers check a fisherman for safety equipment at Packery Channel
Delta District

Man Kidnapped and Robbed, Two Men Arrested

Vernon Hemphill
Curtis Curt Terrell

Occurred on 8/28/12, 5:22 pm  Kidnapping/Aggravated Robbery    522 N. Tancahua   1208280112

Officers responded to the Wells Fargo Bank Motor Bank after a customer sent the teller a written message on a check to call police.  Upon their arrival, Officers observed several males the silver PT Cruiser in the drive thru and blocked it in.

Further investigation revealed the victim had been assaulted and robbed of him money after agreeing to drive one of the men home.  The victim told Officers he drank a few beers with the man when another man arrived at the home and threatened to kill the victim.  The man assaulted the victim with a piece of wood causing a laceration his eye and chin.

The two men drove the victim to the bank and were forcing the victim to withdraw money from his bank account when police arrived.

Vernon Hemphill (12/11/89) and Curtis Curt Terrell (08/23/48) were both arrested and charged with Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Robbery.  Terrell was additionally charged with an outstanding warrant.

The victim was treated at the scene by CCFD Emergency Personnel.

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division

Police Search For Missing 12 Year Old Girl

Cameron Hernandez

Occurred Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 21:00, 4100 Brett Street, Missing child 1208280161

The Corpus Christi Police Department are searching for a missing 12-year-old child that was last seen on the 4100 block of Brett Street at 7:30 pm on August 28, 2012.

A 28-year-old woman told police her 12-year-old daughter went for a jog inside an apartment complex at 7:30 pm and had not returned home. The 28-year-old woman said she and her daughter had moved to Corpus Christi on July 30, 2012 and had not met many people. The woman said there was no event of discipline or conflict that would have contributed to cause the girl to run away from home.

The 12-year-old girl, Cameron Hernandez, is a Hispanic female, 5 ft. 1 inch tall, 100 pounds, with dyed red hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white tank top shirt, silver basketball shorts, black Nike running shoes, and a camouflaged Camelback water carrier. The 12-year-old girl is enrolled in 6th grade at Tom Browne Middle School.

Anyone with any information to locate Cameron should call the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2670.

Delta District, Patrol Division

Man Steals Car From Woman In Town For Job Interview

Occurred Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 2:00am, 600 Leopard Street, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 1208280051

Corpus Christi Police arrested a 33-year-old man after he was found driving a vehicle taken hours earlier from an 18-year-old woman.

An 18 year old woman told police that she and several friends came to Corpus Christi from Nacogdoches to interview for jobs. The 18-year-old and her friends went to a bar on the sea wall after the interviews and met 33-year-old Gerry Brooks (2/9/1979).

Brooks offered to drive the friends around town and to a bar on Leopard Street. The friends agreed and got out of the car at a bar on the 600 block of Leopard Street. The 18-year-old woman said Brooks left alone in her silver 2003 Mitsubishi Gallant.

The 18-year-old woman reported her car valued at $2,500 stolen to the Corpus Christi Police at 10:30am when she was able to gather the vehicle information to provide to police.

Corpus Christi Patrol Officers found the stolen vehicle moving on South Alameda at Cole Street at 1:18pm. Patrol officers stopped and arrested Brooks for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, a state jail felony punishable by up to 2 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

The vehicle was returned to the 18-year-old woman.

Corpus Christi Police warn the public not to allow strangers to operate your vehicle. Have the vehicle information like the Vehicle Identification Number available for police to avoid delayed reporting if the vehicle gets stolen. One method may be to enter the information on a phone or email with included pictures of the vehicle stored in a place readily accessible.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter