Occurred April 11, 2012
Former CCPD Officer Robert McChester 27, submitted his letter of resignation Wednesday afternoon to Chief of Police Floyd Simpson. McChester was arrested Tuesday by ICE agents for Online Solicitation of a Minor and was arraigned Wednesday before US Magistrate Judge Janice B. Ellington. McChester remains in federal custody.
Occurred on 4/11/12, 5:43 pm Wanted Subjects 730 E. Cornelia 1204110105
Officer M. Thebeau investigating the theft of electrical cable valued at $2,600 from Scientific Drilling reported on March 19, 2012 checked all the recycling centers and was able to obtain information which identified the possible suspects involved in the theft.
Detective J. Garza with Property Crimes Unit was able to follow-up on the information and obtain warrants for both suspects.
Arturo Arce (10/17/81) and Mary Crystal Coronado (08/15/81) were arrested at 730 E. Cornelia and charged with the outstanding Nueces County warrants for Theft of Wire or Cable. His bond was set at $25,000, while Coronado’s was set at $15,000.
Occurred on 4/11/12, 4:20 pm Hit and Run Accident/Evading Arrest 5100 Holly C1202747/1204110094
Officers working a Hit and Run in which a white 2000 Mitsubishi Galant and a maroon 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche pick-up truck were both traveling eastbound on 5100 Holly Road. The driver of the Galant who was traveling at a high rate of speed attempted to pass the Avalanche when the driver lost control and struck the pick-up truck. The three occupants in the Avalanche were uninjured.
The driver Joshua Pantoja (02/08/92) fled and was found in the area of 5100 Wooldridge Road where he ran from the Officer. A foot pursuit ensued through the neighborhood and Pantoja was caught in the 5000 block of Cascade with the assistance of citizen on a bicycle.
Pantoja was medically cleared and arrested. He was charged with Evading Arrest and cited for Failure to Control Speed, Failure to Remain and Report an Accident, along with Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
Reported on 4/11/12, 08:03 am Burglary of a Habitation 4343 Leopard 1204110016
Officers contacted the owner of Armstrong Lumber who reported the business had been burglarized during the night. Surveillance video shows a suspect climbing over the fence and forcing his way into the guard shack where he finds a set of bolt cutters.
The suspect is seen rummaging through several cars and using the bolt cutters on the garage door. Once inside he finds a cart and loads up a 300 lb. compressor. He then makes his way to the fence where he cuts a hole in the fence and steals the $2,500 compressor.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 23 to 28 years of age, 5’5″ to 5’8″ feet tall and weighing 170 to 180 lbs. He was last seen wearing a Dallas Cowboy jersey and a glove on his right hand.
The surveillance video will be uploaded when obtained by the Property Crimes Unit. Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Property Crimes Unit at 361-886-2841.
Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
This week Crime Stoppers is asking for your tips to help investigators solve a brutal sexual assault that occurred recently in an industrial area on the North Side of Corpus Christi.
On Tuesday March 20th, 2012 at around 9:00 pm a Port Police Officer saw a woman stumble from the bushes near Brewster and Sam Rankin Streets. The woman was rushed to the hospital and placed in intensive care with critical injuries.
Corpus Christi Police Department Detectives discovered the woman was sexually assaulted and brutally beaten by her attacker in an area of brush near the road. Investigators need your help to provide more details to identify the person responsible for this attack.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Don’t allow this violent predator to remain in our area.
If you have any additional information about this violent attack, call Crime Stoppers at 888- TIPS, or log on at 888tips.com. The information you provided could earn you $1000 in cash.
Follow the CCPD on Twitter for other Police Department news: http://twitter.com/#!/CorpusChristiPD
Occurred April 11, 2012, 4737 Kostoryz Street, Organized Retail Theft, 1203270068
A 54-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday at her place of business for Organized Retail Theft.
The Corpus Christi Police Department was made aware on March 9, 2012 that food was routinely stolen from area grocers and then sold to a local retail shop. Police investigators discovered the stolen food was then sold from the retail shop for public consumption.
Police Property Crimes Investigators assisted by HEB Loss Prevention conducted an undercover operation which confirmed the stolen food was sold to Norma’s Fruits and Delights. The Police Investigators then obtained a warrant for arrest for 54-year-old Norma Palacios (8/10/1957). Palacios was arrested at her business on April 11, 2012 and delivered to the city detention center. The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District were on scene to inspect the business after the arrest.
Palacios is recorded to have received between $500 and $1,500 worth of stolen food that was sold for public consumption. Officers recovered $2,715 worth of stolen meat products when Palacios was arrested. The charge is a State Jail Felony punishable by up to 2 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Occurred Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 6:50am, Driving While Intoxicated 1204110013, & C1202729
A 22-year-old man was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated this morning at the 6100 block of Saratoga after a single vehicle crash.
Corpus Christi Police investigated a single vehicle crash in which a black 2008 Toyota Corolla travelled west on Saratoga, then crossed all lanes of traffic, over the concrete median, and then left the roadway. The Corolla rolled and landed on its side.
The operator of the Corolla was the only occupant and he was taken to the hospital for treatment for minor injuries. Corpus Christi Police investigated the crash and discovered evidence that the operator may have been intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Police arrested 22-year-old George Light (7/24/1989) for Driving While Intoxicated. The charge is a Class B Misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.
Occurred April 10, 2012
On April 3rd, 2012 the Corpus Christi Police Department obtained information that a CCPD officer had allegedly engaged in an improper relationship with an underage teenage girl. A criminal investigation was launched immediately by the Corpus Christi Police Department Criminal Investigation Division. Chief of Police Floyd Simpson placed the accused officer, Robert McChester, on administrative leave later the same day, pending the outcome of the investigation.
During the course of their investigation CCPD Detectives discovered evidence that McChester had utilized the Internet to engage in illicit communications with the victim, a violation of federal statutes. On April 9th, CID presented the findings of the investigation to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents with the Department of Homeland Security, who adopted the case for federal prosecution.
On Tuesday afternoon, ICE Agents arrested McChester, charging him with Online Solicitation of a Minor. He will be arraigned today in Federal Court.
McChester, a four and a half year veteran of the Police Department, remains on administrative leave, while the department continues with the disciplinary review process; that process could result in discipline up to termination.
“We are ready, willing and able to clean our own house,” said Police Chief Floyd Simpson during a news conference Tuesday evening at the police station. Chief Simpson made it clear that although the allegations were disturbing, the Police Department would continue to be open and honest with the public when it comes to alleged officer misbehavior; “When we mess up, we fess up and then we clean up. Then we move forward”, said Simpson.
Occurred March April 11, 2012, 12:05am, Robbery, 2000 Red Oak 1204110001
Seven people were arrested for aggravated robbery overnight in Flour Bluff after they posed as stranded motorists and robbed the man who stopped to help.
A 19-year-old man was on his way home from work at midnight when he saw a red 2000 Ford Escort stopped on the 2000 block of Red Oak. The Escort had the hood raised and a man outside the vehicle waved at the 19-year-old for help. The 19-year-old man stopped to help and was asked to provide a jump-start. The 19-year-old placed his car face to face with the Escort and exited his vehicle.
The man who posed as a stranded motorist then pointed a pistol and demanded the victim’s wallet and valuables. Several others exited the Escort and took the keys to the victim’s car and then the group fled in the Escort after taking the valuables. No one was injured in this event.
Corpus Christi Police Officers located the red Escort on Glenoak Drive. Police captured the seven participants to the robbery and recovered the valuables.
20-year-old Joshua Freeman (1/24/1992), 18-year-old Rene Robinson (1/11/1994), 20-year-old Amber Flores (2/1/1992), 21-year-old Gilbert Gomez (12/10/1990), 17-year-old Keanu Davis (10/25/1994), 20-year-old Anthony Trevino (3/13/1992), and 19-year-old Johnny Robinson (3/29/1993) were arrested for Aggravated Robbery and Unlawful Carrying of Weapons then delivered to the city detention center.
The Aggravated Robbery charge is a 1st degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The Unlawful Carrying of Weapons is a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.
Corpus Christi Police recommend calling police if you see a stranded motorist to avoid criminal opportunity.
Occurred March 29, 2012, 5:10am, Burglary of a Vehicle, 3600 State Highway 77, 1203290104
Police need additional information to identify a man who stole over $400 worth of property from vehicles at a local car dealership.
Corpus Christi Police were called to investigate a burglary in which the man pictured above took property out of several vehicles at about 5:00am on March 29, 2012. The man is described as a white male, 50-60 years of age that is between 5 ft. 6 inches to 5 ft. 8 inches tall, with gray hair. The man is heavy-set, clean-shaven with short bushy air and he wore a short sleeve shirt and jeans.
The image of the man was taken from area surveillance cameras which recorded this crime.
Anyone with additional information about this crime 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.
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