Community Outreach

Police Invite Public To Business Summit

The Corpus Christi Police Department will host a business summit Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 8:00am to noon at the Del Mar College Center for Economic Development located across from Ray high School at 3209 Staples Street.

The purpose of the summit is to build a partnership to protect local businesses. The topics in the summit will include: Protecting your business against scams and social media; Personal safety at home and work; and Counterfeit money and money orders.

Anyone interested to attend this event at no fee should contact Sandra Cantu at (361) 886-2615 or Canyce Hedrick at (361) 886-2844 to reserve a place.

Community Outreach

Police Ceremony Celebrates 9 Promoted To Senior Officer

Newly promoted Senior Officers: Armando Cruz; Lonnie Humitz; Adam Thurman; Alberto Salinas; David Saldana; Curtis Volling; Jose Flores; Armando Vasquez; and Corey Casey.

Nine Corpus Christi Police Officers were promoted to the rank of Senior Officer Thursday, September 06, 2012 in a ceremony with Chief of Police Floyd Simpson at the Corpus Christi Police Headquarters.

The officers successfully completed a proficiency exam on August 14, 2012. The test covered material from publications such as the Corpus Christi Police General Rules Manual, the Texas Criminal and Traffic Laws Manual, The Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Family Code, Texas Transportation Code, and the text-book Leadership, Ethics, and Policing for the 21st Century by P.J. Ortmeier and Edwin Meese.

The officers must have attained 60 months of service as a commissioned officer in the Corpus Christi Police Department to be eligible to take the exam. Other requirements to take the exam are that they possess an Intermediate Peace Officer license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education or at least have 60 hours college credit from an accredited college or university.

The Senior Officer exam was graded as an individual pass or fail examination with a minimum score of 70% required to pass the exam.

The Corpus Christi Police Department celebrates the newly promoted Senior Officers: Armando Cruz; Lonnie Humitz; Adam Thurman; Alberto Salinas; David Saldana; Curtis Volling; Jose Flores; Armando Vasquez; and Corey Casey.

Alberto Salinas pins rank onto Senior Officer Adam Thurman
Assistant Chief Mike Markle congratulates Senior Officer Lonnie Humitz

 

 

Charlie District, Traffic Safety Division

Two Killed In Head On Crash On Saratoga Blvd.

Occurred Thursday, September 06, 2012, 2:02am, 5300 Saratoga, Vehicle crash with fatal injuries C1206778

                A 57-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman did not survive a head on vehicle crash on the 5300 block of Saratoga near Montecita Drive at 2:00am Thursday morning.

A 20-year-old man and a 40-year-old man witnessed the crash and told police a white 1998 Ford sport utility vehicle operated by the 25-year-old woman travelled west at a high rate of speed in the eastbound lanes of Saratoga Boulevard. The sport utility vehicle collided head on into a blue Dodge Dakota operated by the 57-year-old man who traveled east in the eastbound lanes.

There were no other occupants in either vehicle. The 5300 block of Saratoga Boulevard is a divided roadway with a concrete center median that separates the eastbound and the westbound traffic. The 57-year-old man died at the scene and the 25-year-old woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but later died.

Corpus Christi Police Traffic Crash Investigators continue to investigate to determine the cause of the crash.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Observant neighbor helps identify possible burglars

September 6, 2012 1:32 am   Burglary Investigation   3100 Catcay   1209060016

Officers were dispatched to Catcay Drive to investigate a theft. Upon arrival they contacted a witness who observed a white SUV driving slowly down the street. The witness said that the vehicle stopped in front of a home and two subjects got out and removed objects from some parked boats.  Officers began to search the area and located the vehicle on the 3000 block of Waldron Road.

A traffic stop was initiated. The Driver Leonard Simmons 10-28-70 had a suspended license and was arrested for that charge. The passenger Gary Lawrence was arrested on an outstanding municipal court warrant.

Officers located two trolling motors, but were unable to contact the owners to confirm the theft. These items were tagged as evidence and detectives will follow up with possible theft charges.

The Corpus Christi police Department would like to remind citizens not to leave valuables in your vehicles. This includes boats which often have expensive equipment and fishing gear left easily accessible to potential thieves.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Good ‘Ol Fashion Police Work Stops Thief

Occurred Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 11:10am, 14050 South Padre Island Drive, Credit Card Abuse, 1209050039

                A 49-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for using stolen credit cards in Flour Bluff.

A 34-year-old man told Corpus Christi Police that his wallet was stolen from inside his truck while parked and unattended on the naval base yesterday. The 34-year-old man said his credit card was used at a hotel on Padre Island. Corpus Christi Police Officer Dean Mays went to the hotel, but the person that used the card was no longer there.

Senior Officer Mays then investigated further and discovered the card was used at several other locations in Flour Bluff including the Stripes store, Whataburger, Auto Zone, and other stores. Senior Officer Mays went to the several stores and viewed the store video records and obtained images of the suspect and the vehicle the suspect used to drive to the stores.

Senior Officer Mays broadcast the suspect vehicle description, a red Ford Explorer with a tire strapped on top, and Lieutenant Tom Nichols found the vehicle at Waldron and South Padre Island Drive. Lieutenant Nichols recognized the operator of the vehicle as 49-year-old Michael Wright (6/20/1963) and knew Wright did not have a valid driver’s license. Lieutenant Nichols initiated a traffic stop and investigated the claim of credit card abuse. Wright was arrested after a short investigation for Driving While License Suspended, No Insurance, and for the credit card abuse.

Community Outreach

Police Search For Missing Disabled Man

David Mark Garcia
Missing Disabled Person

Corpus Christi Police would like help from the public to find a missing disabled person from Harlingen, 52-year-old David Mark Garcia. He was last seen in Corpus Christi the weekend of August 25, 2012 at the Exxon Station at Morgan and Crosstown. Garcia has medical problems and stumbles while he walks. Garcia may hang around the bus station.

If anyone sees David Mark Garcia, call Corpus Christi Police at 886-2600. Garcia’s family are worried and would like to find him soon.

 

Delta District, Patrol Division

Restaurant Employees Stop Thief On Downtown Crime Spree

Occurred Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 14:05, 309 Interstate Highway 37, Robbery and Theft 1209040083, 1209040104

                An 18 year old woman was arrested for stealing at the Burger King on IH 37 at Chaparral Tuesday afternoon after employees caught the woman and detained her for police.

The 55-year-old manager of the Burger King found 18-year-old Deserae Garza (9/26/1993) in the back of the kitchen at 2:00pm. Garza was not an employee and the store manager quickly discovered that Garza had stolen money from a prepared register drawer in the store office.

The manager held Garza in place until Corpus Christi Police Arrived. It was discovered that Garza had stolen valuables from customer’s purses hanging on chairs in the restaurant. The valuables were returned to the customers.

Corpus Christi Police also discovered that Garza had stolen cash, an iphone, and an ipad from the place in which she applied for employment earlier in the day on the 400 block of Mann Street.

Garza was arrested for robbery, two thefts, and possession of dangerous drugs and then delivered to the city detention center.

Charlie District, Patrol Division

Ambulance Takes Man To Hospital After Fight On 4200 Block Of Cambridge

Occurred Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 19:20, Cambridge Drive at Horne Road, Aggravated Assault 1209040164

A 52-year-old man was taken to the hospital by ambulance with serious head trauma after he started a fight with a 25-year-old man near the area of Cambridge Drive and Horne Road.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a fight in the street in which they found a 52-year-old man laid face up in the road unresponsive with a head injury. The 52-year-old man was immediately taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Investigators believe the man’s head struck the pavement which caused significant trauma.

Corpus Christi Police detained a 25-year-old man identified as the person responsible for causing the head injury to the 52-year-old man. Detectives and Forensics Lab Technicians responded to the scene to interview witnesses and collect evidence.

Witnesses pointed to the 52-year-old man as the aggressor in this event and that alcohol consumption may have contributed to the aggression.

No arrests were made and the detectives continue to investigate the event to determine appropriate criminal charges.

Anyone interested to research reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi should search Crimereports.com for useful information. Anyone with any additional information about this event should call Corpus Christi Police or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip at www.888TIPS.com.

Bravo District

Broken Glass on a Suspect’s Clothing Leads to the Arrest of a Burglar

September 5th 2012 3:14am      Burglary to a Building with arrest      6300 Mcardle      12-09050015

CCPD received a call for an alarm at a convenience located at the 6300 block of Mcardle. Captain Weber was already in the area and responded.  Upon his arrival, he contacted Ruben Perez 2/7/86 who was walking away from the business.  Ruben was detained and found to have broken glass all over him. The suspect also had was also bleeding from his left calf.  The surveillance video from the store showed Ruben smashing the window and then reaching into the store in an attempt to unlock the doors.  He was booked for burglary of a building.

Burglary to a building is a state jail felony. An individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony shall be punished by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days. In addition to confinement, an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Community Outreach

Nueces County Top 10 Most Wanted For September 2012

Benjamin Gomez has been captured. Please help locate the nine other fugitives in our community.

Lisa Cabrera- Motion to revoke probation for driving while intoxicated

Guadalupe Bazaldua- Burglary of a habitation

Casandra Dunn- Motion to revoke probation for possession of a controlled substance

Roland Rios- Contempt of Child Support

David Theodore- Possession of a controlled substance

Robert Rader- Credit card abuse

Luis Suarez- Endangering a child

Louis Papakostas- Evading arrest with a vehicle

Terrell Fontenot- Assault

If you know where we can locate any of these individuals call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS, or log on at www.888tips.com. We want your information, not your name. The information you provide could earn you a cash reward.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter