Community Outreach, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Delta District

“Delete that Text?” You Didn’t Win a Target Gift Card Scam Alert

The Corpus Christi Financial Crimes Unit and the Better Business Bureau would like to alert the community about a new scam in which mobile phone users are  receiving suspicious messages.  The text messages are purported to be from Target and announce you as a winner of a free gift card.  The drawing is a scam and your information is obtained by the scammers. 

Do not reply or visit the website, just simply delete the text.  For more information, please visit http://www.bbb.org/blog/top-scams-of-2011.html for the Top Scams of 2011.

Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it’s not true.  If you believe you are a victim of a scam, please call the police at 886-COPS.  If you would like a presentation on Identity Theft or Senior Safety please call Crime Victim Advisor Brenda Moreno at 361-886-2765.

Charlie District, Delta District

Man Run Over Trying to Break Up Fight

Occurred on 7/17/12, 02:25 am  Aggravated Assault     4201 McArdle     1207170022

Officers responded to Molly’s Irish Pub for a hit and run accident involving a pedestrian.  The 34-year-old man told Police, he was trying to break up a fight between two groups of sisters who had been asked to leave the pub. The women began yelling and screaming at one another as one group of sisters drove off.  A fight ensued between the occupants of the car and the other group of sisters still in the parking lot.  

When the victim tried to break up the fight, the driver reversed her vehicle and ran over his foot and ankle.  The driver also hit a parked Chevrolet Avalanche pick-up truck as they fled in a black Nissan passenger car.  The suspect vehicle returned, but fled yet again.  The owner of the Avalanche followed the suspects and obtained a license plate number.  The victim was taken to Spohn Memorial.

Officers talked to the two other women assaulted and one of them told Police she was knocked to the ground by the vehicle.  This victim complained of pain to her ankle and left knee, but refused to be taken to Spohn Memorial by CCFD Emergency Personnel to the hospital, seeking her own transportation.  The other female did not have any visible injuries.

The suspects were known to the women and their information provided to Officers.  Both women, 29 and 36 years of age appear to have an Alice, TX address.  The investigation will continue and the women are facing Aggravated Assault, two counts of Assaults, and Reckless Damage or Destruction charges.

 

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District, Patrol Division

Police Seek Missing Disabled Woman

Corpus Christi Police are searching for a disabled 23-year-old woman, Brittany Gonzales, who was last seen Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 11:00pm walking on Morgan Avenue toward Alameda Street in Corpus Christi. Brittany Gonzales resides with her grandmother who told police that Brittany took a trip to the Sunrise Foods on Thursday night and never returned home.
 
Police investigated and located an individual that saw Brittany on Morgan walking toward Alameda. Police would like additional help from the public to find Brittany. Brittany is a 23-year-old Hispanic woman who stands 5 ft. 6 in., 190 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. Brittany is mentally slow from a childhood illness, has a lazy left eye, a large skin graft on her right leg, and 8 amputated fingers.
 
Anyone with any information to locate Brittany Gonzales should call Corpus Christi Police at 886-2850 to speak to Detective R.L. Garcia.
 
Additionally; Corpus Christi Police would like the public to know to report any person that may  be in danger. There is no time period one must wait before reporting a person as missing. If a person is missing and possibly in some kind of danger, call police immediately.
Excerpt  
Bravo District

Brave Bartender Wins Stand Off

Occurred on 7/16/12, 7:56 am   Aggravated Robbery  3029 Laguna Shores Road 1207160035

A Blackhawk Bar employee told Officers she opened up the bar and was inside the bar cleaning when she heard the door open.  A masked man armed with a handgun entered the store.  The 34-year-old victim, who was on the phone, began yelling out the suspect’s description as she ran to the office.  The victim was able to retrieve her gun.

The bar employee exited the office armed with her handgun and both pointed their weapons at one another.   The suspect cursed at the victim and ran out of the bar.  The victim chased after the suspect firing one shot as he ran northbound through the parking lot.

The suspect is male, 6’1” feet tall and weighing 190 lbs. and was last seen wearing Khaki pants, a camouflage jacket, and a mask.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or login online at www.888TIPS .  You can also call using your iPhone or Android apps.  Callers will receive a cash reward if the suspect is arrested.

Delta District

Simple Traffic Stop Erupts To Felony Arrest

Occurred Saturday, July 14, 2012, 23:20, 6400 Weber Road, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tampering With Evidence, Evading Arrest, 1207140181

A 30-year-old man was arrested Saturday night for evading arrest and for destruction of evidence and a variety of other charges after a Corpus Christi Police Officer initiated a traffic stop at Everhart and Saratoga for an inoperable license plate light.

The Patrol officer noticed a black Ford F-150 travel north on the 6400 block of Everhart at 11:20pm without an operable license plate light. The patrol officer activated the emergency lights on the patrol car and the truck traveled west on Saratoga Boulevard. The operator of the truck, Joe Hernandez (1/25/1982) refused to stop for the officer. Hernandez threw out a bag of a white substance at Saratoga and Senators. Other police officers recovered the bag and discovered the contents were illegal narcotics.

Hernandez stopped the truck at the corner of Weber and Saratoga, a mile after the officer originally initiated the traffic stop, and Hernandez was arrested for evading arrest or detention in a vehicle, a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Officers discovered narcotics inside the vehicle and Hernandez was charged with possession of a controlled substance (a state jail felony) and for tampering with evidence (a Class A misdemeanor).

Officers discovered Hernandez had two warrants for his arrest from Nueces County for Criminal Mischief. The truck was impounded and Hernandez was delivered to the City Detention Center.

Delta District

Two Boys Apprehended In Violation Of Curfew and Graffiti

Occurred Saturday, July 14, 2012, 23:21, Kostoryz Road at Manshiem Boulevard, Graffiti & curfew violations, 1207140183

A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were taken into custody Saturday night for their connection to $450 worth of damage for graffiti in the area of Sacky and Wharton.

Corpus Christi Police were called at 11:15pm Saturday night for a graffiti complaint. The caller told police that juveniles who were responsible for graffiti were in an orange car and used red paint in the area of Sacky and Wharton.

A Corpus Christi Police Officer saw an orange car with occupants who matched the description of the suspects at Kostoryz and Mansheim.  The officer investigated the vehicle and its occupants and discovered evidence of the crime.

A 16-year-old boy and his 15-year-old boy passenger were apprehended and delivered to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center for graffiti (a Class B Misdemeanor); for possession of graffiti implements (a Class C Misdemeanor); and for violation of night-time curfew (a Class C Misdemeanor).

Charlie District

Two Women Fight Off Purse Snatcher

Occurred on 7/14/12, 9:35 pm  Robbery  5425 S. Padre Island Drive  1207140164

Police were called to Target at Moore Plaza for a robbery call in which the victims were returning to their cars when a male grabbed one of the women’s purse.  The victim refused to let go of her purse and a struggle ensued.  The victim’s friend was trying to help when she was knocked to the ground where she struck her head.  She sustained a bruise and a minor laceration to her elbow.  She was treated by CCFD Emergency Personnel, but refused to be taken to the hospital.

The suspect then fled westbound on Williams Drive in a silver or gray passenger car.  He is described as a Hispanic male, 5’10” to 6′ feet tall and weighing 130 to 140 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt with light-colored blue jeans and a white cap.

Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or submit online at www.888TIPS.com .  You can also submit a tip via your iPhone or Android app.  Callers can receive a cash reward up to $1,000 if the suspect is arrested.

Charlie District

Crook Too “Thick” To Slide Down Exhaust Fan

Johnny Molina

Occurred on 7/16/12, 1:119 am Burglary of a Building  2515 Leopard Street 1207160008

Police were called by an anonymous caller who reported noises coming from Salinas Catering.  Officers arrived to find Johnny Molina (03/15/77) on the roof  of the business.  He was very cooperative with Police and quickly descended from the rooftop.  Molina was detained and placed in police custody. 

CCFD provided Officers with a ladder which allowed them access to the roof.  Officers found several damaged roof vents which Molina had broken in an attempt to enter the building.  Further investigation revealed the suspect was able to dangle his feet and legs inside the building through an exhaust fan, but unable to make it inside the business.

Molina was arrested and charged with Burglary of a Building and an outstanding Municipal Court warrant for Failure to Appear in the amount of $306.

 

Delta District

Thieves Run From Store Employees Directly To Police

Occurred Monday, July 16, 2012, 1:35am, 4500 McGregor Dr. Theft, curfew violations, 1207160010

Two were arrested Monday morning after they ran with stolen property past a police officer at 1:35 in the morning near the Wal-Mart on Staples.

Corpus Christi Police Officer Paul Janko patrolled the 4500 block of McGregor and saw a man and a juvenile boy run past his marked patrol car at 1:35am. Officer Janko stopped the two and discovered 20-year-old Juan Sanchez (5/1/1992) and a 16-year-old boy had $78 worth of merchandise from the Wal-Mart and no receipt.

Officer Janko took the two back to Wal-Mart and investigated the possible theft. Wal-Mart employees verified that Sanchez and the juvenile had taken the merchandise without paying and then ran from the store until they ran past Officer Janko.

The merchandise was returned to the store and Sanchez was arrested for theft, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. Sanchez was also arrested for inducing night curfew punishable by a fine up to $200.

The 16-year-old juvenile was referred to the juvenile court and delivered to the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center for the theft and for violation of night curfew.

Delta District

Two Arrested for Racing on Shoreline

Occurred on 7/15/12, 10:55 pm  Racing  Shoreline and Cooper’s Alley      1207150161 

Officer C. Meer was at the Corpus Christi Art Center for a call for service when he observed a white Chrysler 300 and a Ford Mustang racing on Shoreline Boulevard.  The Officer was not able to catch up to them until the two vehicles slowed down on Furman Avenue.  Both vehicles were attempting to make a u-turn when the Officer was able to pull them over. 

Both denied racing, one told Officers he was on the way to work, while the other did know why she was being pulled over.  Michelle Hernandez (07/12/86) and Christopher Silva (12/19/86) were both arrested and charged with Racing on Highway. 

Hernandez was additionally charged with Driving While License Invalid and Child Passenger Safety Seat Offense 8 Years when her four-year-old son was not buckled in an approved child safety seat. 

The “Racing” and Driving While License Suspended charges are Class “B” Misdemeanors and both are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Hernandez’ third charge for an unapproved safety seat is a Class “C” Misdemeanor and punishable by a fine up to $500. 

The four-year-old was uninjured and release to the 18-year-old passenger.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter