Interim Corpus Christi Police Department Police Chief Richard Badaracco will join patrol officers when they hit the streets for holiday enforcement this New Year’s Eve. Badaracco will take part in a ride-a-long, Saturday, December 31, 2011, joining Uniform Patrol Division Officers for their 5:15 PM briefing and then spending the night responding to calls alongside them during one of the busiest enforcement shifts of the year. Although Badaracco retired from the DEA after over 25 years of service, he is no stranger to the challenges faced by street cops; Chief Badaracco began his career in law enforcement as a patrol officer with the Newton Police Department, in Newton Massachusetts. New Year’s Eve will be Chief Badaracco’s first opportunity to “hit the streets” with CCPD Officers since taking over as Interim Chief in November, following Chief Troy Riggs’ promotion to Assistant City Manager. Chief Badaracco hopes to gain a better perspective of the day-to-day challenges encountered by CCPD patrol officers, while at the same time developing a more thorough understanding of the unique crime problems facing the neighborhoods they patrol. The knowledge and experience gained on this and future ride-alongs will assist him in conducting a thorough assessment of the entire department, and in preparing an intelligence driven strategic plan for the next Chief of Police.
Detectives Seek Public’s Help to Nab Imposters in Home Invasion Burglary
Occurred December 23rd, 2011 10:00 PM Burglary of a Residence 4300 Amherst 112240045
Corpus Christi Police Detectives are investigating a home invasion burglary where the suspects impersonated city utility workers to gain entry into the victim’s residence. A 33 year-old woman told police that at approximately 10:00 PM on December 23rd, two men knocked on her front door. The woman said that the two men were wearing white hard hats, green safety vests, blue long sleeve shirts and dark pants. One suspect wore a shirt that she believed had a City of Corpus Christi emblem stitched upon it. When she answered the door, one of the suspects told her that they needed access to her back yard due to a water line break. The two suspects went to the back yard for a few moments, before returning to the front door and knocking again. When the victim’s sister answered the door the second time, one suspect forced his way into the residence while pointing a handgun at the two women. The second man followed and began punching the victim, and both women were then forced at gunpoint into another room where the suspects demanded money. The suspects apparently then panicked and fled the residence without stealing anything, but warned the victims not to report the incident to police. The victim sustained minor injuries to her face. The suspects were described as Hispanic men in their mid-thirties.
Detectives are continuing to follow leads, but need the public’s assistance to identify these two suspects. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (888-8477).
In order to “Keep Corpus Christi Safe”, citizens are urged to use caution when answering the door late at night and to follow these simple safety tips:
- Utilize the peep-hole and your door security chain.
- Most utility company workers wear a uniform with distinctive emblem; most vehicles will have a distinct and obvious logo. Don’t open the door to anyone who doesn’t have either.
- Demand identification from anyone appearing to be a utility worker or city employee.
- Most utility and cable services schedule appointments ahead of time.
- If no appointment has been made, ask for the company’s customer service number and call them to verify.
- Write down the vehicle’s license plate number along with a description of the individual.
- If possible, take a photo of the individual and the vehicle they are driving but remain inside the safety of your home.
- If you feel you are being targeted by one of these imposters, call 911.
For more information on personal and Senior safety or to request a Home Safety Inspection, contact CCPD Crime Prevention Advisor Brenda Moreno at 361-886-2568
Male Stabbed With Beer Bottle, One Person Arrested
Occurred on 12/29/11, 9:27 p.m. Aggravated Assault 6410 Weber 1112290141
Officers responded to Macaw’s for an assault which occurred inside the bar. Upon their arrival, Officers found the 29-year-old victim in the parking lot, bleeding from wounds to his head and chest. The victim told Officers he was assaulted and struck with a bottle by the suspect who was still inside the bar.
Further investigation revealed the victim bothered the suspect and his girlfriend for most of the evening. The suspect asked the victim to leave them alone. When the hassling continued a fight ensued in which the victim was struck and stabbed with a beer bottle.
Officers located the suspect Willie Barefield (09/01/67) inside the bar. He was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
The victim was treated at the scene by CCFD Emergency Personnel.
Missing Person Rene Ann Conard Found Safe
Reported Missing on 12/28/11, 12:52 p.m. Missing Person 522 Hancock Avenue 1112280074
Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detectives are requesting the public’s assistance in locating 75-year-old Rene Ann Conard who has not been seen since December 23, 2011.
Officers received a call asking for help in locating Conard to check on her welfare, but were unable to locate her. Conard is believed to be in the company of her caregiver and there is concern for her safety and well-being. The caregiver is driving Conard’s white 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, TX handicap license plate 3FPCB. The vehicle has a yellow striping on the lower panels.
Rene Ann Conard is a White female, 5’9″ feet tall and weighs 175 lbs. She has gray hair and green eyes. Her caregiver is an Asian female, 5’6″ feet tall and weighs 185 lbs. She has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone having any information regarding Rene Ann Conard’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Police Department at 361-886-2600 or the Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detective Ramiro Torres at 361-548-0975.
UPDATE:
Missing Person Rene Ann Conard has been found safe. We appreciate both the community and Media’s assistance which has enabled Ms. Conard to be located shortly after her missing status was announced.
Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detectives are currently investigating the circumstances behind Ms. Conard’s disappearance.
Missing Elderly Possible Foul Play Suspected
Reported Missing on 12/28/11, 12:52 p.m. Missing Person 522 Hancock Avenue 1112280074
Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detectives are requesting the public’s assistance in locating 75-year-old Rene Ann Conard who has not been seen since December 23, 2011.
Officers received a call asking for help in locating Conard to check on her welfare, but were unable to locate her. Conard is believed to be in the company of her caregiver and there is concern for her safety and well-being. The caregiver is driving Conard’s white 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, TX handicap license plate 3FPCB. The vehicle has a yellow striping on the lower panels.
Rene Ann Conard is a White female, 5’9″ feet tall and weighs 175 lbs. She has gray hair and green eyes. Her caregiver is an Asian female, 5’6″ feet tall and weighs 185 lbs. She has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone having any information regarding Rene Ann Conard’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Police Department at 361-886-2600 or the Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Detective Ramiro Torres at 361-548-0975.
CCPD Upgrades Parking Enforcement & Will Launch New Civil Court System on January 3, 2012
After 16 months of research and design, the Corpus Christi Police Department will soon launch the 2nd phase of the Parking Control unit upgrades. In the ongoing first phase, parking meter rates were increased and technology-based parking meters replaced 35-50 year old mechanical meters. Soon the new credit card meters will be installed. The new meters are projected to pay for themselves within a 12 month period, due to increased efficiency and added payment options. Within three years, 40% of the gross revenue will go into a revitalization project for downtown, uptown and Corpus Christi Beach.
Phase Two addresses the enforcement, citation and adjudication process. The majority of parking violations will be issued on electronic ticket-writers; used by cities nationwide. The new electronic citations will look similar to the hand-written version, but will be inserted into one of two multi-colored envelopes designating the court of jurisdiction, then placed under the windshield wiper of the violator’s vehicle.
The savings created by the electronic ticket-writers and additional revenue generated by their efficiency is noteworthy. The 20,000+ parking citations (including disabled parking violations) generated annually by hand-written citations require one to two employees just to enter them into the system.
Studies have shown that in the best of systems only 80% of hand-written citations are entered; cities with electronic ticket writers see 99% of tickets processed and entered. This provides for a significant increase in revenue.
The launch of the new Office of Administrative Hearings (civil court) further reduces the city’s operational cost of adjudicating parking citations, increases efficiency of collecting those debts generated by violators, and offers numerous simplified payment options.
Corpus Christi joins the majority of cities nationwide in decriminalizing most parking citations to civil violations, much like the Red Light Camera violations. Some parking offenses, however, such as disabled parking, fire lanes, blocking sidewalks and blocking fire hydrants remain criminal violations by state statutes.
The staffing and operational costs of civil courts are much lower than traditional courts and the simplified adjudication process and payment options help reduce the tension in violators.
The new Corpus Christi system is state-of-the-art technology, fully automated and virtually paperless. Where the criminal adjudication system currently only allows only for payments by mail or paying in person, the new civil system provides violators with multiple payment options. Violators can now pay online, pay by phone, pay by mail and pay in-person. Beginning in February, violators will be able to pay-by-smart phone, and beginning in March payments can be made at an electronic kiosk located in the court lobby.
Violators who wish to challenge parking citations can simply walk into the civil court weekdays between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm and have the case heard by a Hearing Officer in minutes.
This project includes partnering the city with Brazos Technologies and Duncan Solutions. “Our adjudication system with Duncan Solutions includes a web-based management software along with the outsourcing of the citation, payment, collection and accounting processing, with a professionally manned call center operating Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm” states City Parking Control Supervisor Marc Denson. “This allows for exceptional customer service and significantly reduced operational costs.
The partnership with Brazos Technologies improves systems integrity and accountability, while providing for the automated uploading of citations consistently throughout the day and automatically fed into the court software system. No more standing in long lines at the counter or waiting days for the citation to get in the system.”
Denson adds, “Let’s face it, none of us like getting a ticket, but exceptional customer service, the speed and efficiency of the system and simplified payment options should take some of the sting out of the process.
Drunken “Grinch” Arrested
Occurred on 12/29/11 02:22 a.m. Driving While Intoxicated/Criminal Mischief 4022 Killarmet Drive 1112290009/1112290011
Officers responded to the residence for a criminal mischief call in which a truck had crashed into mailbox and stolen a six foot candy cane from the victim’s yard.
Upon their arrival, Officers found a white 2008 Ford F150 driving with its head lights off at the intersection of Congressional and E. Shea.
The driver turned his head lights on when the Officer activated his overhead emergency lights and pulled him over. The Officer contacted the driver who appeared intoxicated.
Further investigation revealed, the homeowner at 4022 Killarmet Drive heard a loud crash and witnessed a white Ford truck driving away after driving over his mailbox and candy cane. The victim told Officers the candy cane was wedged in the truck’s passenger side mirror.
Another witness reported two passengers in the truck damaged another six foot candy cane at 4600 Donegal and fled on foot.
The driver, Jeffrey Coronado (11-14-87) was administered Standard Field Sobriety Tests and a warrant was obtained for a Blood Specimen.
Coronado was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While License Invalid, and Criminal Mischief.
Firework Patrols Begin Today at 6:00 p.m.
Corpus Christi Police Officers working in coordination with Corpus Christi Fire Fighters will be providing firework enforcement beginning today through the New Year.
Officers will be making traffic stops for the Fire Department on vehicles suspected of travelling into the city limits with fireworks from firework stands.
Both Officers and the Fire Department will be issuing citations for the firework violations. Violators can be fined up to $2,000.00 per firework.
The confiscated fireworks will be disposed of in a bomb squad approved container at an unnamed location.
For further information, please contact Corpus Christi Fire Department Captain James Brown who will be the lead contact person for the operation.
Motorcyclist Strikes Guard Rail, Falls Over Fly Over
Occurred on 12/27/11, 5:08 p.m. Major Accident IH 37 Northbound to Hwy 358 Interchange C1109390
Officers responded to a major accident involving a 19-year-old motorcyclist who struck the guard rail and rolled several hundred feet striking a concrete retaining wall. The driver then fell twenty feet onto the grass median.
The helmeted motorcyclist sustained serious injuries and was transported by CCFD Emergency Personnel to Spohn Memorial. His condition was upgraded to Stable Condition.
His 2004 Suzuki Motorcycle was impounded.
Elderly Man Killed in Midafternoon Car Crash
Occurred on 12/27/11, 3:32 p.m. Major Accident 2000 S. Padre Island Drive C1109387
Officers responded to a one vehicle accident in which a maroon 2005 Ford Free Star van travelling westbound on Hwy 358 left the roadway onto the grass median and collided with a concrete pillar.
The 74-year-old driver and his two passengers, aged 19 and 11 years of age were all transported to Spohn Memorial by CCFD Emergency Personnel. The driver died shortly thereafter.
CCPD Blotter 
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