Occurred on 11/09/11, 8:55 p.m.    Aggravated Robbery/Stolen Vehicle   221 Hotel     1111090124

A 30-year-old female called Police stating that she had been robbed of both her money and vehicle.  Police and CCFD Emergency Personnel made their way to the parking lot of Fajitaville located at 221 Hotel.

Officers contacted the victim who reported she was grabbed from behind by a knife wielding Hispanic male as she walked to her vehicle.  The suspect ordered the victim into her vehicle with him.  The victim complied and shortly thereafter a struggle ensued between the victim and the suspect.

During the struggle, the victim was able to get out of the vehicle in an unsuccessful attempt to get away  The suspect continued to assault the victim using  one of the victim’s  boots to strike her in the face, breaking her nose. 

The suspect then fled in the victim’s 2007 Dodge Caliber.  Officers searched the area for the suspect and vehicle, but were unsuccessful in locating it.

The victim was transported to Spohn Memorial for treatment of her injuries.

The Port of Corpus Christi Police Department informed the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force they had recovered the victim’s vehicle floating in the inner harbor at 2121 Navigation Boulevard.  

The suspect is described as thin Hispanic males, 24 to 25 years of age, 5’3″ to 5’4″ feet tall, with black hair.  He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a tan jacket, and brown Beanie type hat.

Homicide/Robbery Detectives requested the assistance of the Department of Public Safety’s Forensic Artist who rendered the two attached sketches of the suspect.

Anyone having any information on this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide/Robbery Bureau a t
361-886-2841.

Occurred on 11/17/11, 04:53 a.m.  Fire Alarm   2625 Greenwood     1111180021 

Officers M. Benavides and J. Silva responded to a fire alarm at the Lulac Hacienda Apartments located at2625 Greenwood Drive.  Upon their arrival, the Officers heard the smoke alarm and smelled the strong odor of smoke coming from one of the apartments.  The Officers began knocking on the door, but received no response. 

The Officers found an unlocked window and entered the apartment.  Once inside, they found a burning pan on the stove causing the smoke.  

They searched the apartment and found an elderly female asleep in her bedroom.  The victim told Officers she had removed her hearing aid and fallen asleep while cooking dinner and as a result had been unable to hear the smoke alarm. 

Both Officers and CCFD Emergency Personnel were able to escort the 81-year-old victim safely outside.  She was checked at the scene and released.  The apartment did not sustain any fire damage.

11.16.2011/10:26 pm   Warrant of Arrest/Minor in Possession of Alcohol   10900 Annaville Rd.   1111160140

Officer while on patrol stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. Upon contacting the driver, officer asked him for his driver’s license, Luis Zapata 8-23-93 told officer he did not have one and that he probably had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Upon checking him thru the state record he indeed have an outstanding warrant for probation violation.

Ricky Zapata 5-25-93 was the front seat passenger in the vehicle and he was discovered to be drinking some beer, therefore he was also arrested for Minor in possession of Alcohol.

The vehicles that both subject were cruzin in was impounded.

Occurred on 04/23/11, 9:40 p.m.   Burglary of a Habitation   2820 Swanter     1104230173 
                                                    Burglary of a Habitation   613 Texas Avenue      1104230178

Officers V. Ortiz and A. Carrizales were investigating a residential burglary at 2820 Swantner that had just occurred.  Officers contacted the 60-year-old victim who told Officers she believed someone was in her residence when she arrived home.  Officer A. Lopez heard the call on the radio and began to search for the suspect.  

While checking the area, several calls were received to 613 Texas Avenue for a female yelling for help in the front yard of  her residence along with a burglary in progress call with the suspect being held down by the homeowner.  

Officer Lopez drove up on the residence prior to the calls being dispatched and found the 30-year-old victim whose face was covered in blood holding the suspect in a headlock, while his 29-year-old wife held the suspect’s legs.  Brian Steer (08/25/65) was taken into custody. 

Further investigation revealed, the couple arrived home to find their front door kicked open and Steer walking out the front door.  A struggle ensued in which Steer struck the husband with a crow bar causing a laceration to the victim’s head.  Steer kept on fighting back and attempting to escape until Officer Lopez arrived.  

The husband sustained a laceration to the forehead and to the back of his head when he was assaulted by Steer.  He was transported to Spohn Memorial for medical treatment by CCFD Emergency Personnel.  

Steer was found with stolen property on him belonging to the victim at 2820 Swantner.   Steer was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon, Burglary of a Habitation, and an outstanding Austin State Parole warrant for Burglary of a Building. 

UPDATE: 

The Nueces County District Attorney’s Office notified the Corpus Christi Police Department that Brian Steer had been sentenced to 75 years for Aggravated Robbery and two counts of Burglary of a Habitation on November 10, 2011.