Adam District, Patrol Division

Officer Injured Effecting A DWI Arrest

Occurred Monday, May 14, 2012, 2:10am, 11400 Interstate Highway 37 Driving While Intoxicated and Assault on a Public Servant C1203697, 1205140015, and 1205140029 

A 26-year-old man was arrested Monday after an attack on a Corpus Christi Police Officer that investigated a vehicle crash on Interstate Highway 37 near Hart Road.

Corpus Christi Police were called to investigate a black 2001 Pontiac Bonneville in the ditch alongside the freeway of Interstate Highway 37 at about 2:00am.  A person notified the police dispatcher that the driver was combative and attempting to leave.

A Corpus Christi Police Patrol Officer arrived and asked 26-year-old Victor Garcia (9/23/1985) to exit the vehicle. Garcia ignored the officer until the officer demanded Garcia exit the car. Garcia lunged at the officer from the driver seat and struggled with the officer until Garcia was placed under arrest and in handcuffs.

The officer received treatment from the hospital for a shoulder injury as a result of the struggle. Garcia was arrested for Assault on a Public Servant and for Driving While Intoxicated. The assault charge is a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The Driving While Intoxicated charge was enhanced for previous convictions to a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Central A/C Unit Stolen From Home While Man Sleeps

Occurred Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 2:00am, Theft 14900 Windward Drive 1205160013

Two air conditioner units were taken from two Padre Island homes overnight while the owner slept inside the home Wednesday.

A 54-year-old man said he discovered someone had tampered with his central air conditioner exterior unit and taken the neighbors unit during the night while he slept. The 54-year-old man said he woke to his dog’s barks which prompted him to investigate. The man then discovered the air conditioner units were taken and destroyed leaving an estimated value of damage at about $5,000.

The Corpus Christi Police Department has a crime prevention unit that can schedule a time with interested home owners to conduct a residential or business security survey. The Crime Prevention Specialists of the Police Community Relations Division are certified by the Texas Insurance Board to conduct Homeowners Insurance Premium Reduction Surveys. During these surveys, our experts determine if the home meets security standards set out by the Texas Insurance Board. If these requirements are met, your insurance company will generally allow you a reduction in your insurance premiums.

Interested property owners may find more information on the City of Corpus Christi website, www.cctexas.com or contact Brenda Moreno, Crime Prevention Advisor, at 361-886-2568. Anyone interested to research reported crime in Corpus Christi is encouraged to search Crimereports.com for a variety of information.

Anyone who has additional information about these air conditioner thefts should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or log on to www.888TIPS.com. The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward.

Charlie District

Racer Speeds Her Way to Jail

Occurred on 5/17/12, 2:39 am Racing On Highway/Reckless Driving  Saratoga Blvd/S. Staples Street  1205170027 

Two speeders were observed racing on S. Staples Street as they zig zagged their way thru traffic.  Both vehicles sped away from the Officer heading southbound on S. Staples as they continued to drive parallel to one another, each driver tried to outdistanced the other. 

The Officer was able to pull over both the SUV and Ford Fusion into the parking lot of the Camden Copperridge Apartments, 6635 S. Staples Street.  As the Officer approached the vehicles, the dark-colored SUV exited the parking lot and fled.  The driver of the Fusion was arrested.  Maricruz Silva (02/23/88) was charged with Racing on Highway and Reckless Driving.

 

 

Community Outreach, Delta District

Road Closures Announced for Beach to Bay Relay Marathon

Source:  Kim Womack, City of Corpus Christi Public Information Director

City Announces Street Closures with Scheduled Weekend Events For Beach To Bay Relay Marathon and Discover Downtown Festival 

The City of Corpus Christi Traffic Engineering office advises residents that beginning on Friday, May 18, 2012 through Saturday, May 19, 2012, various street closures will be implemented for both the Discover Downtown Music and Film Festival and the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon. 

Road closures will begin on Friday, May 18, 2012 through Saturday May 19, 2012.  All motorists traveling south bound Shoreline Boulevard are advised to use Water Street. Detours will be in place on South Bound Shoreline to guide motorist around the road closures. The following streets will be closed to traffic during this time: 

  • South bound Shoreline Boulevard between Kinney Street and Furman Avenue.
  • North bound Shoreline Boulevard between Buford Street and Coopers Alley
  • Kinney Street between south and north bound Shoreline Boulevard.
  • Born Street between Water Street and south bound Shoreline Boulevard.
  • Broadway Court between Water Street and south bound Shoreline Boulevard.
  • Park Avenue between south and north bound Shoreline Boulevard. 

The Beach to Bay Relay Marathon will consist of various lane closures beginning on Saturday, May 19, 2012: 

  • The JFK Bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction.
  • East bound Park Road 22 will be reduced to one lane between the JFK Bridge and Access Road 6.
  • Waldron Road will be closed between SH 358 and N.A.S. Drive.
  • Northbound Ocean Drive will be reduced to one lane between Ennis Joslin and Louisiana Avenue.
  • Northbound Ocean Drive will be reduced to two lanes between Louisiana Avenue and Morgan Avenue  

Traffic control devices will guide traffic throughout the event site.  Motorist should expect delays in this area and should seek alternate routes.  Motorists are advised to observe all advanced warning signs and barricading for their safety and that of the event participants.

A barricading contractor will provide access to all commercial and residential driveways during the event.

Delta District

Four Teens Arrested Following Assault, Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle

Occurred: 5/16/2012   2:34 AM       Assault/ Stolen Vehicle/Evading Arrest       1205160012, 0016, and 0021

Four juveniles are in custody at the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center after they were arrested by police following a short pursuit of a stolen SUV early Wednesday morning.  At about 2:30 AM Wednesday morning, Patrol Officers responded to Port and Tarlton Streets to investigate a reported assault.  Two men in their early twenties told officers that they were assaulted by four teenage boys in a black Nissan Rogue.  The victims told officers that they were standing in the parking lot of a convenience store in the 3000 block of S. Port Avenue when the four teens drove up in the Nissan, got out of the vehicle and began punching the two men.  The four then got back into the vehicle and fled the area prior to police arriving.  Officers checked the license plate given by the victims and discovered the Nissan had been reported stolen on May 5th.

Officers searching for the Nissan later spotted it in the 700 block of Duncan Street.  When officers attempted to pull it over, the driver led them on a short pursuit that ended in the 2900 block of Marguerite Street where the vehicle crashed into a parked Ford Escort.  All four occupants then fled on foot, but were quickly rounded up by responding officers.  The four teens face a variety of serious charges including Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Evading Arrest, and Assault.  The two victims of the assault were not seriously injured and did not require medical attention.

Bravo District

Police Officer Injured in Collision

Occurred on 5/16/1/2, 5:42 pm  Major Accident  1900 Rodd Field Road   C1203760 

An Officer en route to minor accident was traveling southbound in the 1900 block of Rodd Field Road when he was struck by a maroon 1993 Chevrolet pick-up truck which pulled out from a private drive.  The 37-year-old driver who had been waved thru by other drivers did not see the police car in the center lane.  The man and his 5-year-old son were uninjured in the accident. 

The Officer was taken to Bay Area Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The driver of the truck was cited for Failure to Control Speed and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.

Adam District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Corpus Christi Participates In Mock Contraflow Exercise

The Corpus Christi Police Department will participate with the Texas Department of Public Safety in an exercise Thursday to practice the state Contraflow hurricane evacuation plan along Interstate 37 between Corpus Christi and San Antonio.

The Texas Department of Transportation has partnered with the law enforcement agencies to conduct a mock Contraflow exercise to prepare for hurricane season. The Contraflow plan is that southbound lanes of Interstate Highway 37 would be reversed to carry two lanes of traffic northbound from Corpus Christi to San Antonio to help move people from Corpus Christi to San Antonio out of harm’s way during a large scale evacuation.

Transportation and law enforcement agencies will stage barricades for the mock exercise at the entrance and exit ramps along Interstate 37 in Nueces, San Patricio, Live Oak, Atascosa, and Bexar counties. The exercise is expected to begin at 8:00am and end around noon. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers will drive south to perform mock flushing of southbound traffic to clear Interstate 37 for contraflow traffic. Law enforcement is assigned to direct motorists to keep traffic flow moving. TxDOT and D.P.S. do not anticipate any disruption of traffic during the exercise.

All participants will meet at the TxDOT Corpus Christi District Office Thursday afternoon for a post-exercise review.

Contraflow will be considered only when the Corpus Christi area is threatened by a major hurricane and mandatory evacuations are issued. A decision to reverse I-37 will be made by local authorities working with the District Disaster Chairman (i.e., DPS) based on the strength of the storm and projected landfall.

The 2012 hurricane season will begin June 1 and extends to November 30. The public may view the contraflow brochures on the Texas Department of Transportation website at www.txdot.gov.

Criminal Intelligence Unit, Delta District

Man Charged with Murder after TV Confession

Arrested on 5/15/12, 11:04 pm  Murder Warrant 3200 Houston Street   1205130064 

CCPD Homicide Robbery Detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Dennis Longbine (09/26/55) on May 15, 2012 after Longbine was implicated in the May 13, 2012 murder of his daughter’s 30-year-old boyfriend.  Longbine’s daughter Chasity Longbine had been arrested and charged with Murder shortly after the death of  her boyfriend.

Dennis Longbine was arrested May 15th, after he was pulled over in the 3200 block of Houston Street.  He was taken to the police department to be interviewed and then booked.  Longbine was charged with the outstanding Murder warrant, $250,000 Bond.

Bravo District, Patrol Division

Patrol Officer Swims To Save Kayaker In Distress

Occurred Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 11:20 am, Open Water Rescue Event #1205019456

A 20 year old man was rescued at the beach Tuesday by Corpus Christi Police Officer John Shultz.

A 20 year old man went out in the water on a kayak and was knocked off the kayak by a wave. The 20 year old man was unable to get back into the kayak. The man’s brother was on shore at Beach Marker 99 near access road 2 and called for help.

Patrol Officer John Shultz put on his life vest and entered the water to provide help. Officer Shultz said the 20 year old man was fatigued and unable to get on the kayak without help. Officer Shultz said he held the kayak stable while the man got on the kayak. Officer Shultz said he held on to the kayak while the man paddled them both to shore. Officer Shultz and the man made it back to shore at about 12:07pm.

Bravo District, Criminal Investigations Division

Daycare Auto Burglar Sought

Occurred on 5/15/12, 7:43 am    Burglary of a Vehicle  1317 Flour Bluff Drive   1205150023
Occurred on 5/15/12,  8:03am    Burglary of a Vehicle  1354 Rodd Field Road   1205150030

Two Mothers morning trip to drop off their children at daycare found their purses stolen from their vehicles.  Both women told Officers they left their vehicles unlocked and their purses inside their vehicles along with their purses. 

The auto burglaries occurred within 20 minutes of one another, but it is unknown at this time whether they are related. The first auto burglary occurred at the Lord of Lutheran Church Day Care Center, 1317 Flour Bluff Drive.  Two purses were taken along with several credit cards and some money.  The second auto burglary occurred at the Kinder Care Day Care Center, 1354 Rodd Field Road.  One purse was taken in this burglary which had the victim’s personal documents and a couple of bracelets.  Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crimes Stoppers at 888-TIPS or you can also submit a tip online, visit the www.TipSubmit.com website to submit a secure e-mail tip.  The information provided could earn the caller a cash reward. 

A vehicle is burglarized in Texas every 2 ½ minutes.  The Corpus Christ Auto Theft Task Force and the Texas Auto Burglary & Theft Prevention Authority feel the best way to keep thieves from stealing items from your car is to leave it in the same condition as when it rolled off the factory floor:  nothing inside except the parts that comprise it.  This includes laptops, GPS systems, satellite radios, gym bags, address books, and purses and wallets that contain credit cards, checkbooks, and money.   Following are a few of the more important prevention tips to keep in mind:

  • If you must leave belongings, hide them from sight.
  • Never park in unattended or poorly lit parking lots.
  • Do not keep your vehicle registration in your car.
  • Do not carry vehicle insurance documents or personal papers in your glove box.
  • Do not leave outgoing or incoming mail in your car, especially where visible.
  • Avoid leaving the garage door opener in your car.
  • Never leave your vehicle or house keys in your car.
  • Beware of suspicious persons, call police.
  • Never leave your vehicle unlocked.

Avoid becoming a victim by following these crime prevention tips, remember to Hide, Lock, and Take.  For more prevention tips and information, please contact PaulKay Olivarez, Auto Theft Task Force Public Awareness Coordinator at 361-886-2872.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter