Occurred on 1/12/12, 10:05 p.m. Loitering for Prostitution 5202 I.H. 37 1201120143
Sharon Gibbs (02/04/74) was observed in the convenience store parking lot approach several men and converse with them. Gibbs saw the Officer turn into the parking lot and took off running.
A short foot pursuit ensued in which the Officer caught Gibbs and arrested her. She was charged with Prostitution ~ Loitering For and Evading Arrest.
1.13.2012/1:00am Homicide 200 S. Tancahua 1201130007
Early this morning officers were called to the 200 block of S. Tancahua after witnesses heard unusual noises coming from the residence. When they arrived they located an 88-year-old woman bleeding from what appeared to be stab wounds; she was not responsive but had a pulse. Medics transported her to the hospital in critical condition.
Officers at the scene were informed that a light complected male subject, either Hispanic or White, was seen running from the apartment shortly before the victim was located. Witnesses described the individual as clean-shaven with a shaved head, 5′ 8″ to 5′ 10″ in height, 150-170 lbs.
While investigators were still at the crime scene they learned that the victim had succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Investigators with the Robbery/Homicide Unit are asking for the public’s assistance in this senseless act of violence. If anyone has any information about this Homicide please call Detective J.T. Smith or Detective R. Lee at 886-2781 or 886-2858, or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS, or log on at www.888tips.com the information you provide could earn you a cash reward.
Officers responded to a burglary in progress call in the 400 block of Indiana, where they were directed to two male subjects getting into a blue Ford F150. After the men saw the police, they both fled on foot, leaving the truck. The bed of the truck was found to have a TV as well as other items which were linked back to the house where the subjects were spotted. Officers were able to quickly search for the subjects who were found hiding together under a house in the 400 block of Ohio. The Officers arrested both Johnathen Pena 10.4.92 and the other subject, a 14 year old juvenile male, for burglary of a residence and for running from the Police. The property in the truck was returned to the homeowner and the truck was taken to the CCPD impound lot.
The third annual Corpus Christi Police Department Awards Banquet will be held Thursday January 26th on board the USS Lexington. Interim Police Chief Richard Badaracco will present the 2011 Officer of the Year, Civilian Employee of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year Awards; LifeSaving and Certificate of Merit Awards will also be presented to those officers and civilians who distinguished themselves during 2011.
This year’s Awards Banquet and fundraiser is once again being sponsored by the Citizens in Support of the Corpus Christi Police Department, often referred to as the Police Foundation. The event is open to the public with tickets on sale for $25.00 and tables for $250. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact:
Joann Garcia in Central Records a 361-886-2704 or Mike Teeter at 361-886-2734
The Corpus Christi Police Department today is proud to announce the launch of the Patrol K-9 Unit. This unit, under the supervision of Uniform Patrol Division Commander Santiago Escalante, provides the department with one more tool to achieve its commitment to reduce crime, the fear of crime and enhance public safety. Although the police department has utilized drug detecting canines in the Narcotics Unit since the mid-1990s, the canines of the Patrol K-9 Unit will be the first ever patrol service dogs assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division. In addition to their keen ability to detect narcotics, these highly trained “dual purpose” canines are able to conduct building searches, track fleeing suspects, search for missing persons and lost children, and apprehend violent offenders.
BACKGROUND:
In 2010, former Chief of Police Troy Riggs began attending daily “roll calls” to meet the men and women of the Uniform Division and to present his vision for the police department. During these meetings, Chief Riggs took the opportunity to listen to the officers’ suggestions on how to better serve the community during a time of shrinking budgets and depleted staffing. One common theme voiced by the rank and file was the dangers they encountered while searching for burglary suspects within darkened buildings or conducting open field searches for fleeing offenders. Officers also mentioned the need for more drug detecting canines to improve their ability to combat the ever-present scourge of street level drug traffickers. Supervisors cited the difficulty of conducting searches for lost children, missing persons, or fleeing suspects without the services of a well-trained tracking canine.
In the fall of 2010, Chief Riggs commissioned the Patrol Canine Feasibility Team to study the pros and cons of forming a K-9 Unit within the Uniform Patrol Division. The committee consisted of City Risk Manager Donna James-Spruce, Terry Utrech, Director of the Union Pacific Railroad K-9 program, CCPD Narcotics K-9 Officers Allen Dial and Shawn Orsak, CCPD Training Officer Rodney Luzania, and Gang Unit Captain Todd Green. The team examined crime data, reviewed lost time and injury claims, studied policies from numerous Law Enforcement Agencies and Working Dog Organizations, and consulted with experts in the working dog field, before presenting its findings to Chief Riggs and his Command Staff. The Committee recommended that the Police Department implement a Patrol K-9 program, but strongly emphasized the need for direct supervision, extensive and continuous training, and clearly defined policies regulating the deployment of the Patrol K-9s. In January of 2011, Chief Riggs signed policy authorizing the creation of the Patrol K-9 program.
The first step in the program was the selection of the Patrol K-9 Supervisors. The K-9 policy signed by Chief Riggs required a serious commitment to the program from both the handlers and supervisors; the Patrol K-9 supervisors would be required to attend the same training as the handlers and agree to work the same evening patrol shift as the handlers for a period of at least two years. In May of 2011, Lt. Anthony Sanders and Lt. Donnie Moore were selected as CCPD’s first Patrol K-9 Unit Supervisors.
The selection of the K-9 handlers followed. City Risk Manager Donna James-Spruce, Commander Escalante, and Lieutenants Moore and Sanders oversaw the selection process as numerous officers vied for the right to become CCPD’s first Patrol K-9 handlers. Applicants for the positions were expected to make a five-year commitment to the program, demonstrate excellent physical fitness, strong self-initiative, sound judgment and decision-making, and even temperament. Following a very rigorous and competitive selection process, Sr. Officer Lee Preiss and Sr. Officer Jason Lavastida were chosen as the Patrol K-9 Unit handlers.
In late August, the Lieutenants and handlers visited two canine vendors in the San Antonio area, and followed that with a visit to the Dallas Police Department K-9 Unit, where they were allowed to participate during training. The information and insight gained while reviewing the Dallas program proved invaluable during the canine vendor selection process and implementation of our own Patrol K-9 program. The department eventually selected the well-regarded Hill Country Dog Center in Pipe Creek, Texas as the vendor to provide the canines and training for the program.
In late September the Lieutenants and handlers began the four-week K-9 handler training program at the Hill Country Dog Center. Sr. Officer Preiss was introduced to his K-9 partner “Kimbo”, a German shepherd, while Sr. Officer Lavasitda was assigned K-9 “LaRoy”, a Belgian Malinois. Lieutenants Sanders and Moore were also provided with canines during the four-week course, so that they could participate in the same training as the handlers. Topics covered during the intense month-long course included caring and grooming for the animals, obedience training, building searches, scouting, tracking, narcotics detection, and officer protection. The four officers completed their training on October 21st and returned home.
Since then, the handlers and their K-9s have continued the training process in preparation for full deployment. During this time, the handlers and their K-9s have visited numerous patrol shifts in order to familiarize the dogs with their new surroundings, as well as to educate the officers as to the dogs’ abilities. In November, Senior Officer Preiss and his dog “Kimbo” attained additional certification from the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association. “LaRoy” is on track to attain his certification in the near future.
The K-9 Unit will begin full operations this Friday evening. Hours of operation are Friday through Monday from approximately 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM, peak hours for criminal activity. One K-9 Team will be assigned to the city’s Southside, while the other will patrol the West and North side. Both teams will be available for “call-outs” when needed.
About the Supervisors:
Lt. Donald Moore is an eleven year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department. He has served in the Uniform Patrol Division, Training Division and as a member of the SWAT Team. He was promoted to Lieutenant in January of 2011.
Lt. Anthony Sanders is a ten-year veteran of the Police Department and has served exclusively in the Uniform Patrol Division. Lt. Sanders served ten years in the United States Navy prior to joining the force. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2008.
About the Handlers and their K-9 partners:
Sr. Officer Lee Preiss was a Nueces County Sheriff’s Deputy for seven years before joining the Corpus Christi Police Department in 2000. He has served in the Uniform Division, Narcotics/Vice Division, Gang Unit and on the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force. Preiss served nine years in the United States Air Force as a K-9 handler prior to beginning his career in local law enforcement. His partner, “Kimbo” is a three year-old German Shepherd that weighs in at 72 pounds with unending energy that Preiss describes as extremely social with both animals and people.
Sr. Officer Jason Lavastida is an eleven year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department who has served in the Uniform Patrol Division as a patrol officer and as a member of the SWAT Team for approximately five years. Prior to his selection as a handler, Lavastida served in the Training Division as a physical fitness instructor. His partner, “LaRoy” is a three year-old Belgian Malinois, who also weighs in at approximately 72 lbs. “LaRoy” is extremely energetic, says Lavasitda, who enjoys taking him on 3 mile runs.
Both K-9s were born in Holland from extremely strong bloodlines and take their commands in Dutch.
Patrol K-9 facts
K-9 handlers keep their K-9 partners at their homes in kennels provided by the police department.
K-9 handlers and their K-9 partners are required to train at least four hours per week and an additional four-hour block each month.
K-9 handlers are compensated for the care, feeding and grooming of their K-9 partners.
K-9 handlers and supervisors must keep extensive and accurate training records.
K-9s and their handlers must maintain certifications in order to be deployed.
K-9s or K-9 handlers who cannot maintain certification will be removed from service.
K-9 Supervisors and K-9 handlers are provided with specially equipped Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicles.
The Canine Unit vehicles are fully marked and equipped with the following:
To see a video of the K-9 unit in action, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diBB1XEQvR8&feature=g-upl&context=G2e4a367AUAAAAAAAAAA
Occurred on 1/12/12, 06:43 a.m. Criminal Trespass/Injured Party 4985 Ayers 1201120020
A 32-year-old Allied Waste employee told Officers he picked up the garbage from the Peter Piper Pizza and was in the process of compacting the trash when he heard screaming.
The driver stopped crushing the garbage and found a 49-year-old Black male looking up from the refuse. It is believed the victim was sleeping in the dumpster due to the cold weather during the night.
CCFD Emergency Personnel were able to free the man who was pinned near a blade. He was transported him to Spohn Memorial with minor injuries.
1.1.2011/10:35am Aggravated Robbery 1300 Airline 1201010095
Investigators with the Robbery/Homicide Unit are asking for your help in identifying the individual responsible for an Aggravated Robbery at the Sears Department store.
In this incident the unidentified individual is seen via in store surveillance put on a pair boots and then walk out of the store without paying for them.
When store personal attempted to question the individual about the incident he struck the employee with a closed fist and threatened to shoot them.
He then fled on foot west bound and got into a light-colored vehicle and fled west bound on the access road.
The individual is described as a hispanic male with a thin build around 5′ 9″ in height. At the time of the robbery he was wearing a white beanie, blue vest over a black long sleeve t-shirt with white crosses on the sleeves, dark jeans.
If you can identify this individual we encourage you to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS, or log on at www.888tips.com the information you provide could earn you a cash reward.
Detectives with the Property Crimes Unit need your help in identifying the individual responsible for stealing property from an elderly victim.
The unidentified subject has befriended the victim by doing minimal chores around the residence during which he has been stealing from her.
The unidentified subject is described as a heavy-set Hispanic male in his thirties, he appears to be around 5′ 7″ to 5′ 9″ in height.
If you can identify this individual we encourage you to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS, or log on at www.888tips.com the information you provide could earn you a cash reward.
Occurred on 1/10/12, 4:35 p.m. Forgery 4125 Gollihar 1201100069
Officers responded to the It’ll Do Saloon and contacted the bartender who reported Sheila Jo Hardin (08/20/75) attempted to pay her bar tab with a forged $100 bill.
Officers contacted Hardin who was found to be in possession of several more $100 counterfeit bills which were confiscated.
Hardin was arrested and charged with Forgery ~ Government Instrument Money/Securities.
12.13.2011/9:53pm Theft 5425 South Padre Island Dr. 1112130138
Detectives with the Property Crimes Unit are asking for your help in identifying the individual responsible for the theft of a wallet from a local H.E.B.
The wallet was left on the counter by its owner who forgot to retrieve it when she was done paying for her groceries. The wallet contained several credit cards, the owners drivers license and some cash.
The subject is described as a short heavy-set hispanic female with short dark hair in her forties, at the time of the theft she was wearing a multi-colored blouse.
If you can identify this individual we encourage you to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS, or log on at www.888tips.com the information you provide could earn you a cash reward.
CCPD Blotter 
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