Community Outreach

Veterans Meeting in Corpus Christi

Caring for our Military Heroes

On Saturday morning, January 21, 2012, Interim Chief Richard Badaracco and Senior Officer Denise Pace represented the Corpus Christi Police Department during a panel discussion about our Nations military veterans.  Topics that were discussed included the Peace Tree Project of South Texas, and Veterans Village.

The Peace Tree Project of South Texas donates a live tree to surviving family members of soldiers killed.  The Project motto: “Strengthening the Roots of America; One U.S. Fallen Hero’s Family at a Time.”  The tree is both a gift of thanks and honor, but also a symbol of remembrance.  These trees have been donated to families all over the Coastal Bend to include Corpus Christi, Portland, Robstown, Mathis and Orange Grove.

Lft to Rt: Interim Chief Badaracco, Sr. Officer Pace, Nadia McCaffrey

The topic of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) included news that WWII veterans coming home from a war zone would live on a military base for a period of about one month, during which time they would re-adjust to life outside a combat zone.  Veterans today can be back at their own house within forty-eight hours of being in a combat zone.  A lack of ‘decompression’ can enhance PTSD.

Veterans Village, a project started by Nadia McCaffrey who was at the meeting, is a place for veterans to turn when struggling to re-adjust to life at home.  “It’s not about politics…the right or the left” McCaffrey said, “it’s about the men and women who served.”  McCaffrey’s son Patrick was killed in Iraq in June of 2004.  Information about Veterans Village can be found at: http://www.veteransvillage.org/

Lft to Rt: Interim Chief Badaracco, Commisioner Gonzalez

The purpose of the Saturday morning’s meeting was to bring current veteran topics and issues to the table.  In addition to the Corpus Christi Police Department, attendees at the meeting included representatives from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office, and Del Mar College.  Texas Congressman Todd Hunter and Nueces County Commissioner Joe A. Gonzalez were also in attendance.

The Corpus Christi Police Department was honored to be able to participate in such a noble venue.

Bravo District

Stabbing

Occurred 1/20/12 at 10:55 PM      Aggravated Assault      722 NAS Dr.      1201200172

After responding to a local tavern for a stabbing call, Officers contacted witnesses who reported two men were arguing and began fighting.  Officers then contacted a 41-year-old male who had been stabbed in the abdomen.  The victim and witnesses gave Officers a great description of the suspect and vehicle the suspect left in, a blue van with a luggage rack on top.  The description of the vehicle included the license plate number.

The victim was taken to Spohn Memorial Hospital.

Patrol Officers who had heard the vehicle description on the radio, observed the ‘suspect vehicle and stopped it at South Padre Island Dr and Airline Rd.  In the vehicle, Officers contacted a male fitting the description of the suspect and identified him as Brian Williams 4.10.74.  Williams was arrested for Aggravated Assault. 

Officers also contacted Julia Alaniz 10.25.72, who was driving the van.  Alaniz appeared intoxicated and was arrested for DWI (1201200176).

Charlie District, Criminal Investigations Division

Missing Children

Occurred 1/21/12 at 9:06 AM           4500 Hogan            Missing Children           1201210046, 1201210051

At about 9:06 AM, Officers were called to the 4500 block of Hogan Dr, responding to the report of two missing children.  When they arrived, they contacted a foster mother who stated the two children, 8-year-old Diamond Boortz, and 6-year-old Billy Boortz were not in their room when she woke up at about 8:30.  Another foster child at the home said Diamond told him this morning that the foster-mother was mean and that she and her brother were going back to their grandmother’s house in Alice, TX.  The two children then left the home through a window. 

The foster-mother, upon realizing the two were missing, drove around the neighborhood looking for the children and when she did not find them, she returned home and called the Police.  When Officers arrived at the home, the foster-mother stated the two children were placed in her home by Child Protective Services one day earlier (1/20/12).

The two children were described as follows:

Diamond Boortz: 8-years-old, 4 foot tall, 60 pounds, brown hair and eyes, dressed in a pink robe

Billy Boortz: 6-years-old, 3 foot 6 inches tall, 40 pounds, brown hair, dressed in green pajamas (pants and shirt).

Although there was no reason to suspect foul play, the Corpus Christi Police Department called out both Homicide and Family Violence Detectives to initiate a full investigation and promptly locate the children.  This complimented the many Patrol Officers who were already canvassing the neighborhood looking for the children.

Through a partnership with the local news media, information about the missing children was immediately distributed to the community.

Working with Child Protective Services, the Corpus Christi Police Department contacted the Alice Police Department.  Alice Police went to the grandmothers’ home and located Diamond and Billy; both were safe and unharmed.

Detectives have discovered that the children were contacted by a 37-year-old ‘good-Samaritan.’  This individual observed the children walking in the area of Bratton Rd and Weber and stopped to ask them if they were okay.  Diamond told him they needed to call their grandmother, and then gave him the number to call.  The grandmother was contacted and drove to the location to pick up the children.

Child Protective Services has taken over the case and will determine where the children will go from this point further.  At this time, no criminal charges will be filed by the Corpus Christi Police Department on anyone involved. 

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to remind everyone: If you see someone or something suspicious, please call us to investigate.  The CCPD non-emergency number is 361-886-2600.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to issue a special thanks to the Corpus Christi Caller Times, KIIITV, KRIS, and KZTV.  All responded immediately to the scene to assist the Corpus Christi Police Department in the search for these missing children.

Narcotics/Vice Division

Search Warrant

Occurred 1/20/12, 3:00 PM Search Warrant 4701 Ayers 1201200086

                             

Narcotics Investigators executed a search warrant today as a result of ongoing undercover investigation. During the course of the search, some marijuana was located. As a result, two men identified as Noe Villarreal 8.23.90 and Paul Orta 7.20.89 were arrested.

Narcotics Investigators are continuing with this investigation; therefore, no further information will be released at this time.

Bravo District, Traffic Safety Division

Intoxication Assault Arrest

Occurred 1/19/12 at 4:35 PM      Warrant for Intoxication Assault      1201190093

On September 22, 2011, at 11:17 PM, Officer responded to a head on collision at the intersection of Rodd Field Road and Yorktown Blvd (C1106840).  Richard Williams 6.5.76, who was driving a 2005 Toyota Tundra had driven into the oncoming lane of traffic and struck a 2002 GMC Pickup.  Both Williams and the driver of the other vehicle were injured and Williams appeared intoxicated.  Although Williams was not arrested due to his injuries, Officers initiated an Intoxication Assault investigation (1109220172).  Williams’s blood was tested and the results of that test indicated that he was indeed intoxicated at the time of the crash.  After receiving the blood results, Officers with the Traffic Division obtained a warrant for Williams arrest for Intoxication Assault.  This charge is a 3rd Degree Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. 

On 1/19/12, Officers were able to locate and arrest Williams in the 6200 Block of Saratoga Blvd.

Community Outreach, Criminal Investigations Division

Report the Paint

Citizens of Corpus Christi as well as the Graffiti Task Force have seen a sharp increase in graffiti vandalism during the past several months.   The Customer Call Center is also seeing an increase in cases of graffiti being reported.

At this time, the Graffiti Task Force would like to provide the public with some information concerning the process for handling graffiti cases.  Police officers should only be called to take a police report concerning graffiti if it is on a vehicle, there are implements left behind that can be used as evidence, the graffiti vandal can be positively identified, or if multiple locations have been vandalized such as an entire neighborhood.  All other incidents of graffiti should be reported through the Customer Call Center (826-2489) or by going on-line to www.cctexas.com/graffiti .  Once this is done, we will have documentation of the incident on file.    Our Graffiti Removal Team will remove the graffiti, take photographs of the vandalism and forward the photos to the Graffiti Task Force for analysis. 

Many citizens are not aware that the City of Corpus Christi cannot remove graffiti from private property unless consent is on file from the property owner.   Consent can be given by the owner or resident by  either requesting a consent form be sent to them when they report the graffiti to the customer call center representative or by going on-line at www.cctexas.com/graffiti and submitting a Graffiti Consent Form.   Consent is indefinite until revoked by sending written notice of the revocation to the Corpus Christi Police Department.  In other words, fill out one consent form and you never have to fill out another one as long as you occupy the property.  It is the owner or resident’s responsibility to report graffiti on their property each time it occurs to the Call Center or by going on-line. 

Graffiti on private property, without consent on file, can only be removed if a placard or notice is placed on the property.  Graffiti will be removed after seven days if the property owner or representative has not given their permission or consent.  Graffiti at placarded locations can only be removed once and the private properties have to be placarded each time they have graffiti.  No permission is needed to remove graffiti from city property.

We hope that this information is helpful in explaining the process by which we handle graffiti.  The Graffiti Task Force can be reached by calling 361-886-2788.

Delta District

Stay In Your Car

Occurred 1/20/12, 1:40AM      Traffic Accident      11900 Leopard      C1200422

Officer responded to a traffic accident where a black 2007 BMW Sedan had run into a power pole after leaving the roadway.  The pole and power lines came down on top of the car.  Although the 26-year-old male driver and 21-year-old female passenger were uninjured, they remained in the car.  CCPD Traffic Division Capt. Vesely stated that if there are live wires on a car, the safest course of action is to remain in the car until the power company and Fire/Rescue responders can cut the power off and remove the occupants safely.  That is exactly what happened in this situation.  AEP responders told Officers at the scene that the accident caused a power outage to about six homes in the area and that power should be restored by mid-morning.

Investigating Officers believe the accident was caused by a distraction in the car.

Patrol Division

DON’T DRIVE DRUNK!

Corpus Christi Police Officers arrested three different people last night for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

 

Kenneth Cloutier 6.29.65 was stopped at 12:06AM at Staples St and Furman Dr after his vehicle registration was found to be expired (1201190003).

 

 

Darren Diaz 4.13.90 was stopped at 12:33AM after running a stop sign at 5400 Bowie and Sokol (1201190006).

 

 

Juan Diaz 12.21.80 was stopped at 1:47AM after running a red light at Saratoga and Kostoryz (1201190008).

 

After Officers stopped these men, all were discovered to be intoxicated and all were arrested for DWI.

Delta District

“He Cut Me”

Occurred 1/18/2012, 7:55PM       Injured Party       500 17th Street       1201180134

Officers responded to a stabbing call and made contact with an intoxicated man bleeding from a small cut under his ear.  The man said, “He cut me,” but was unable to give any other information in his intoxicated state.  Paramedics who responded told Officers the wound was not serious, but might need a stitch, so they took the man to Spohn Memorial Hospital. 

Two hours later, Officers went to the hospital with hopes the man would be able to communicate better.  Hospital staff stated the man was asked to wait his turn because the wound was not serious, but instead of waiting, he left.  Officers looked for the man in the area around the hospital, but couldn’t find him.

Delta District, Traffic Safety Division

Traffic Fatality

Traffic Fatality           1200 SH 286 N/B               3:10 a.m.                 C1200387

A single vehicle traffic accident occurred overnight on the Crosstown Freeway.  The truck, a 2005 Ford Ranger, was being driven by a 27-year-old man.  Investigators believe that the man failed to negotiate a curve on the highway near the area of the Morgan Rd on ramp to SH 286 north.  The truck left the highway and flipped several times in the grassy median between the highway and access road.  The driver, who was the only person in the truck, was thrown from the truck.  Investigators do not believe he was wearing his seat belt.

The man was transported to Spohn Memorial Hospital where he later expired.

Corpus Christi Police Daily Blotter