Bravo District

Police Investigate Pedestrian Fatality

Occurred on 02/11/12 09:39 p.m.  Major Accident   7300 McArdle     C1201054

Officers responded to an accident involving a pedestrian who had been struck by a hit and run vehicle.  The 24-year-old female was taken to Bay Area Hospital by CCFD Emergency Personnel.  She was later transferred to Spohn Memorial where she was pronounced deceased.

Further investigation revealed the victim had been walking westbound on McArdle when she was struck by a vehicle traveling in the same direction.  The driver failed to stop and help the victim.

There is very little suspect vehicle information, but a white pickup was observed traveling westbound at the same time the accident occurred.

Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Traffic Division Hit & Run Section at 361-886-2596.

Criminal Investigations Division, Delta District

CCPD Investigating Death of Local Man Following Struggle with Police and Medics

On Sunday February 12th at about 2:14 AM, the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Corpus Christi Fire Department were called to a home in the 1700 block of Morales Street to assist a man who was reportedly having difficulty breathing.

Officers arrived at the home at 2:17 AM and Fire Fighters arrived at 2:18 AM.  The responding public safety personnel discovered a 48-year-old man displaying obvious signs of medical distress. Before he could be treated, the man began struggling with the Medics.  Officers assisted the Medics by restraining the man and handcuffing him.  Officers did not deploy their Tasers to subdue the man. After being handcuffed, the man suddenly quit breathing.  Officers immediately removed the handcuffs so the Medics could begin CPR.  Medics then rushed the man by ambulance to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Two of the responding Officers have been placed on Administrative Leave, which is standard Police Department procedure in such instances. The Officers will remain on leave pending the outcome of a thorough investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division.  The man’s name is being witheld pending notification of family members and will be released by the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Any additional information about this incident will be released by the Corpus Christi Police Department PIO Office on www.ccpdblotter.com.

Charlie District

Attempted Kidnapping

Occurred on 2/10/12, 3:15 AM     Attempted Kidnapping     5200 Weber     1202100020

Officer responded to an attempted abduction call and contacted an 18-year-old woman.  She told Officers that she was walking in front of businesses on the 5200 block of Weber Rd, when a man grabbed her from behind and attempted to put his hand over her mouth.  She was able get away from the man’s grasp, kick him, and run away.  She went home and called the police.

Officers unsuccessfully searched the area looking for the man who was described as a Hispanic male, about 40-years-old with a mustache.  He was said to be about 5 foot 6 inches and about 200 pounds, black hair / brown eyes, wearing a blue wind breaker and blue jeans.

Anyone with knowledge about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS.  You will remain anonymous and could earn a cash reward.

Charlie District

Traffic Accident

Occurred on 2/8/12, 04:09 AM   Traffic Accident   4500 Weber   C1200953 

At about 4:10 AM Thursday morning, Officers responded to a vehicle accident in the 4500 block of Weber Rd.  They discovered a 19-year-old man had fallen asleep at the wheel and ran into a power pole, knocking it over.  The man was the only person inside the 2004 Black Ford truck.  After striking the pole, the truck continued through a fence and stopped against the outside wall of a house.  Luckily, no one was injured. 

The power pole and wires on the ground caused Weber Road to be blocked until about 10:15 AM.

The driver of the truck was cited for failure to maintain a single lane of travel.

Community Outreach

CCPD Police Chief Candidates Announced

City Manager, Ron Olson, announced the five candidates selected for interviews for the City of Corpus Christi Chief of Police earlier today. The selection process began in December when former Police Chief Troy Riggs was promoted to Assistant City Manager of Safety, Health and Neighborhoods. The national search for the next Chief of Police was conducted by the Police Executive Search Forum. The Chief of Police oversees the Police Department with 451 sworn officers, 260 civilians and a budget of over $70 million. The five candidates include:

Joel F. Fitzgerald, Sr. of Missouri City, Texas – Over 20 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Chief of Police for Missouri City and the City of Philadelphia Police Department.

Geraldine J. Garcia of San Antonio, Texas – Over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Assistant Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of Police with the City of San Antonio Police Department.

Sean Mannix of Austin, Texas – Over 29 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Assistant Chief of Police with the City of Austin.

Floyd D. Simpson of Dallas, Texas – Over 25 years of law enforcement experience. Most recently as the Assistant Chief of Police for the City of Dallas.

CCPD Commander Mark Schauer

Mark Schauer of Corpus Christi, Texas – Over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Commander of Support Services and Commander of Uniform Division for the Corpus Christi Police Department.

 

Community Outreach

Officers and Recruits Volunteer to help the Community

Corpus Christi Police Department South Side Directed Patrol Officer Javier Cantu and the entire 70th CCPD Police Academy class will spend the day assisting two elderly females in beautifying and cleaning out their home.  One of the females is bedridden, while the other female takes care of her.

Adult Protective Services had to remove the ladies from the home until their residence is deemed fit to live in again.  While Officers and the Cadets are cleaning up the home, Adult Protective Service have provided these ladies a place to stay until they can return home.

The 70th Police Academy volunteered for this community police project and overwhelmingly agreed that it was the right thing to do and part of their job as public servants.  The cadets feel helping the citizens of Corpus Christi is one of the reasons they want to be Police Officers.

All Officers and Cadets will meet at the Corpus Christi Police Department Training Center, 4510 Corona, Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 8:00 a.m.  They will go from the Training Center to the home, where the work will begin.

Bravo District

Possible Amber Alert Vehicle Sighting

On Wednesday 2/8/12, at about 1:00 PM, the Corpus Christi Police Department received a phone call about a possible Amber Alert sighting.  The male caller advised that he receives Amber Alert texts on his phone, and that he believed he spotted an Amber Alert vehicle in Corpus Christi.  The caller was not following the vehicle and called it in a few minutes after the possible sighting.  He stated that he saw the vehicle turning onto Ennis Joslin, toward Ocean Dr, from the SPID access road.

The caller was not positive it was the same vehicle but did give the description of the car and the last three numbers of the license plate.

Officers responded to the area of Ennis Joslin and SPID.  The responding Officers checked the area but were not able to locate any vehicle resembling the Amber Alert suspect vehicle.

All Corpus Christi Patrol Officers were made aware of the possible sighting, and continue to look for the suspect vehicle.

The Corpus Christi Police Department has been in contact with the Ft. Worth Police Department to discuss the Amber Alert, which is still active. 

The suspect vehicle is a 2007 Silver Mazda CX9, Texas License Plate BMZ390.  The driver of the vehicle, Kimberly Smith, is wanted and should be considered armed and dangerous. 

If anyone spots the vehicle, Kimberly or Jessica Smith, please call 911 immediately.

More information can be found at www.amberalert.com  

Charlie District

Man Found Passed Out, Becomes Combative When Help Arrives

Occurred on 2/7/12, 6:31 p.m.  Public Intoxication   5420 McArdle     1202070136

CCPD Officers and CCFD Emergency Personnel responded to Boots N Britches for a man passed out on the sidewalk.  Medics were trying to check on the man’s welfare when he began swinging at them and the Officer. 

With the assistance of the medics, the Officer was able to handcuff  and arrest the uncontrollable male.  Roberto Herrera (08/23/66) sustained scratches to his face and hand during the scuffle.   

Herrera was medically cleared and booked at the City Detention Center.  He was charged with Public Intoxication and Resisting Arrest.

Charlie District

Two Women Not Seriously Injured In Early Morning Collision

Occurred on 2/7/12, 08:13 a.m.   Traffic Accident   5900 Ayers   C1200894      

Officers responded to an accident involving a rollover in front of the Misty Winds Mobile Park.  Upon their arrival, they found a blue 2005 Jeep Liberty had been struck by a blue 1998 Ford Taurus driven a 78-year-old when it pulled out of a private drive.

The impact of the collision caused the Liberty to roll over and land upside down in a ditch.  The 20-year-old female was pulled out safely.  Both drivers received minor injuries, but refused to be taken for medical treatment.  They also both decided to see their own private doctor.

The elder driver was cited for Failure to Yield the Right of Way from a Private Drive.

Charlie District

Outing to Cabaret Men’s Club Lands Him in Jail

Occurred on 02/08/12, 2:59 a.m.   Driving While Intoxicated   3211 SPID     1202080013

Officers patrolling the area spotted an unoccupied silver 2005 Honda Accord in the McDonald’s parking lot.  The vehicle appeared to have been involved in an accident and sustained extensive front end damage causing the radiator to leak coolant onto the parking lot.

The Officers searched for the driver, but were unable to locate him and returned to the vehicle where they found Rafael Contreras (02/03/91) attempting to get into the car.

Further investigation revealed Contreras had been drinking at the “Cabriolet Men’s Club” and had too much to drink.  He crashed his car into a guard rail in front of the Pepsi Cola plant when he left

Contreras who appeared to be intoxicated was administered Standard Field Sobriety Tests and a Breath Test.  He was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated after being medically cleared at Spohn Shoreline.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter