Bravo District, Community Outreach

Suspects Involved in Weekend Collision Still At Large

 Occurred on 3/10/12, 05:00 a.m.   Major Accident   815 Military     C1201818 

Officers were dispatched for a major accident in which a white Mitsubishi Galant was traveling eastbound in the 1200 block of Matlock Street at an unsafe speed.  The driver failed to stop and struck the residence at 815 Military Drive. 

The owner of the home reported to Officers that shortly after the accident he observed two males and two females run away from the accident scene.  The three occupants in the home were uninjured, but did have to find another place to stay as the home was found to be unstable.

 The investigation is active and ongoing, but the Corpus Christi Police Department Hit & Run Section would like the public’s assistance in solving this crime.  Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS.

Bravo District

Toxic Rap Concert Ends in High Heel Brawl

Occurred March 12, 2012 2:05am Disorderly Conduct, Aggravated Assault, Evading Arrest 1203120016, 1203120019, 1203120022

Four people were arrested Monday morning in a period of 15 minutes after a concert at a local night club. Corpus Christi Police Officers noticed the large crowd in the parking lot at 5820 S. Staples and quickly observed several fights.

The crowd was released from Club Toxic which was host to a Kirko Bangz concert with guest, Snow Tha Product, as a Spring Break ’12 appearance. Police patrol officers gathered in the parking lot to monitor the exiting crowd to promote the crowds safety.

The police patrol officers saw their first fight within five minutes of monitoring the crowd. Directly in front of officers, 22-year-old Matthew Valdez (9/12/1989) charged and attacked another man in the crowd. Valdez was arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct.

Less than five minutes after Valdez was arrested, officers saw a group of about 10 people involved in a fight. Officers saw one of the active participants in the fight flail his arms, curse and provoke the surrounding crowd. The man then saw patrol officers move in his direction and the man ran from the police. Police Officers chased and arrested 22-year-old John Paul Garcia (1/7/1990) for evading arrest or detention.

Officers loaded Garcia into a patrol car and were approached by a 23-year-old woman who bled from her face. The injured woman complained that she was attacked by two other women. The 23-year-old woman said she was in a fight with the two other women who struck her in the face several times with their high heels. The injured woman pointed out her two attackers. 23-year-old Stacy Rosales (5/25/1988) and 20-year-old Mariah Barter (3/15/1991) were both arrested for Aggravated Assault and Public Intoxication.

Criminal Intelligence Unit

36-Year-Old Jailed After He Solicits “12-Year-Old” Over Internet

Occurred on 3/6/12, 12:47 p.m.   Display of Harmful Material to a Minor & Online Solicitation of a Minor   1203060062

On March 9, 2012, Detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Matthew Christian Owens (07/06/75)  for Display of Harmful Material to a Minor and Online Solicitation of a Minor. 

 Detectives were able to obtain the arrest warrants after Owens had conversed online with what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl.  Owens, using a webcam sent explicit video of himself to the young girl, and he then made arrangements to meet the underage girl for sex in Corpus Christi . 

Owens was arrested when he arrived to meet her.  Owens is currently in the Nueces County Jail on bonds totaling $100,000.

Community Outreach

Chief Simpson Was Sworn Into Office Monday Morning

              

The new chief of the Corpus Christi Police Department, Floyd Simpson, was sworn into his position Monday in a ceremony at the police main headquarters. The Honorable Jose Longoria, Judge of the 214th District Court, swore in Chief Simpson in front of the command staff at 9:00 o-clock in the morning on the chiefs first day.

Chief Simpson is a native of Chicago Illinois. Chief Simpson was the assistant chief of police in the Dallas Police Department where he was employed for the past 25 years. Thursday, March 8, 2012, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Dallas Chief David Brown said their farewell to Chief Simpson. Monday, March 12, 2012, Chief Simpson was welcomed by Corpus Christi Mayor Joe Adame.

Chief Simpson is 48 years old and his wife of more than 20 years, Tanya, stood by Chief Simpson’s side as Judge Longoria swore in the new chief of police.

The 70th Police Academy Class for the Corpus Christi Police Department stood in the back of the room to watch Chief Simpson’s ceremony. Chief Simpson took the time to shake every cadet’s hand and introduce himself.

“We share a special bond,” Chief Simpson said to the Academy cadets, “since we start in this department together at the same time.”

                Chief Simpson announced from the podium his intention to waste no time to begin business.

Chief Simpson made a short simple comment as all eyes were on him and ended his comments with the announcement; “It’s time to get to work.”

            

Bravo District

Shoplifter and An Accomplice Arrested for Robbery

Occurred March 10, 2012 8:17Pm     Robbery       1305 Airline           1203100106

A 26-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were arrested for robbery Saturday after a shoplifting attempt went bad. Loss prevention employees reported to police that a woman attempted to steal merchandise from the store. The 34-year-old woman, Gina Gonzalez (2/19/1978) exited and an employee requested Gonzalez to go back into the store. Gonzalez scratched the employee on the face and arms once Gonzalez was confronted. Gonzalez left in a 2004 white Chevy Impala that was driven by a man.

The vehicle and suspect description was broadcast over the police radio. Patrol Officers saw the suspect vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Evidence of the crime was discovered in the vehicle and it was revealed that the driver, Emmanuel Buckingham (1/7/1986) had a suspended license. Buckingham was identified as the getaway driver in the robbery and was arrested.

Gonzalez was not in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop but officers continued to search and investigate. Gonzalez was located at a house she frequents and was arrested for the robbery.

Both Gonzalez and Buckingham were charged with the robbery and the possible punishment is incarceration between 2 to 20 years and a possible $10,000 fine.

Charlie District

Couple Arrested After Their Vehicle Runs Out Of Gas

Occurred March 9, 2012  9:35pm   Saratoga at Everhart         1203090142

A 37-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested Friday after their vehicle ran out of gas and a police officer stopped to help.

Patrol Officer Paul Janko saw a gray 2001 Mercedes 4 door sedan stopped in the roadway and obstructed traffic on Saratoga Boulevard near Everhart Road. Officer Janko stopped behind the Mercedes to provide assistance. Officer Janko asked the occupants to exit the vehicle to a safer area because there was congested traffic and the road was wet from misty conditions. The occupants of the vehicle explained the vehicle was out of fuel.

Officer Janko discovered the front seat passenger, 26-year-old Veronica Guerra (11-4-1985), had an active warrant for her arrest. Guerra was arrested for the warrant for arrest. Guerra was found in possession of contraband so Guerra was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Officer Janko saw a plastic bag that contained a white powdery substance in the front center console cup holder of the vehicle. The operator of the vehicle, 37-year-old Chema Rodriguez (10-4-1974), was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

The rear seat passenger received a citation for possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle. The vehicle was impounded and the rear seat passenger was released at the scene.

Charlie District

Intoxicated Driver Arrested And Connected to Damage At Club Estates Pool

Occurred March 10, 2012 10:42pm Congressional/Pebble Beach DWI/Criminal Mischief/trespass 1203100121/1203100122

A 22-year-old man was arrested Saturday night for breaking into the vacant pool and then driving while intoxicated.

Police were called to the vacant Club Estates pool at 10:42pm by a neighbor that reported a burglary in progress. Patrol Officers arrived and saw a man drive away from the pool in a black 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The Corvette was stopped by police and the operator, Cody Hall (5/30/1989) was investigated and arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Police Officers investigated the pool area and discovered the wooden fence and a building were forced open. Hall was additionally charged with Criminal Trespassing and the Criminal Mischief to the Club Estates Pool.

Bravo District

Corpus Christi Police Arrest First Spring Breaker

A 17-year-old man was arrested at 2:15 pm on Friday as the first arrest for Spring Break in Corpus Christi according to Lt. Kureska of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Patrol officers on the beach saw a man drive a gold 2000 Ford Contour with an expired vehicle registration at Beach Marker 199. Officers initiated a traffic stop for the violation and the man had no driver’s license, and no insurance.

The man was alone in the vehicle and the patrol officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana from inside the vehicle. The officers discovered marijuana in the vehicle and arrested the driver, Heliberto Eguia (5/31/1994).

Eguia received several traffic citations for the expired motor vehicle registration, fail to maintain financial responsibility, and driving as an unlicensed operator. Eguia was arrested for possession of marijuana and delivered to the city detention center. Eguia’s vehicle was impounded.

Delta District

CCPD Narcotic Investigators Deliver Early Wake Up Call, One Male Arrested

Occurred on 3/9/12, 5:45 a.m.   Possession of a Controlled Substance   110 ½ Osage Street   1203090019

Early this morning, Officers with the Corpus Christi Police Department Narcotics & Vice Investigation Division served a warrant at 110 ½ Osage Street as part of an ongoing investigation for the sale of Heroin. 

Officers seized a small quantity of heroin and arrested Raynaldo Soliz (06/26/43) who was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

City Opens New Vehicle Impound Lot

The City of Corpus Christi opened the new vehicle impound lot Monday, March 5, 2012. The new impound lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive was funded by Proposition 3 of the November 2008 city bond election at a cost of 2.7 million dollars. The impound lot features 11 paved acres of land, overhead lighting, access gate, a 2,000 square foot administration building and a vehicle inspection and drop off canopy. The new site has 6 paved acres for a vehicle storage lot, 4 paved acres for an auction lot and 5 acres outside of the existing facility to allow for expansion.

The new impound lot replaces the old impound lot and solves several problems experienced at the previous location. The 5 acre lot on the 2600 block of Holly Road experienced overcrowding, poor drainage and had no room for expansion. The lot on Holly Road opened in 1987 and had 3 additions before it closed operation on March 5, 2012. The location on Holly will be retained by the city to store specialty vehicles and equipment until the new Public Safety Warehouse opens in July 2013.

The employees and the vehicles have moved to the new site from the Holly location. Two additional employees were hired and one wrecker was purchased as a result of the monthly auctions that began March 2011.

The City Impound lot accepted 6,579 vehicles in 2011 for an average of 548 vehicles per month. The City Impound lot accepted 5,857 vehicles in 2010 for an average of 488 vehicles per month. The City Impound lot accepted 1,243 vehicles in 2012 as of March 8, 2012 for an average of 621 vehicles per month.

The site for the new impound lot was the former Hala Pit landfill which was in operation from 1965 until 1971. The site was undeveloped since 1971 until this project was selected for the use of this land.

Environmental studies and safety evaluations delayed the completion of the project and was no additional financial cost. The safety of the environment, employees, and the public is the highest priority that was not compromised in the construction of this project.

The new impound facility serves the purpose to enhance public safety and neighborhood improvement. This area will be the collection point for the uninsured and abandoned vehicles the patrol officers remove as hazards from our city roadways. The facility is open every hour of the day and every day of the year. The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to thank the citizens of Corpus Christi for providing the resources needed to serve this community.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter