Date: Monday, March 28, 2022 5:35 am Offense: Homicide Location: 7500 block of South Staples Case Number: 2203280019
At approximately 5:35 am on Monday, March 28, 2022 officers were dispatched to the 7500 block of S Staples reference a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male on scene who was not responsive, he was later pronounced deceased.
During the preliminary investigation, homicide investigators learned that a verbal disturbance between two patrons of the store escalated to a shooting. While the shooting occurred inside of the store, no other injuries were reported. The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle prior to officers arriving.
Investigators and officers have worked diligently to identify and locate this offender. At approximately 12:45 pm, officers were able to locate the whereabouts of the offender. Officers effected a traffic stop on the 4800 block of S Padre Island Drive and were able to take him into custody without incident. The identity of the offender will be released after he is processed.
If you have any information about this crime, you can contact detectives at 361-886-2840. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (361)888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=. The information you provide to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.
Viewing: Friday, April 1, 2022, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Only registered bidders with bidder numbers will be allowed to view the vehicles.
-No purses or backpacks allowed during the viewing. -No one under 18 will be allowed in the auction lot. -Facemasks, face coverings and social distancing strongly encouraged.
Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 12:21 AM Location: 2400 block of N Oso Parkway Offense: Criminal Mischief Case Number: 2203230033
Corpus Christi Police Detectives want your help to identify a pair who caused damage to a nature preserve.
Two unidentified males caused damage to the facility. Employees located several pieces of flagstone broken throughout the area, several windows shattered, and parts of the playground area to be damaged. It is estimated that the suspects caused several thousands of dollars’ worth of damage and needed repairs to the preserve.
Detectives want your help to identify them. If you have any information about this crime, call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-8477 or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=. If the information you provide leads to an arrest, you could earn a cash reward.
Detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division served a search warrant Wednesday evening at a game room on the 4800 block of South Alameda Street, culminating with the arrests of three men and a woman on illegal gambling charges. Responding to a tip of illegal gambling taking place inside the Sweetwater Club, 4855 S. Alameda Street Suite 109, Detectives initiated an investigation which ultimately established probable cause to obtain a search warrant for the premises from the 319th District Court. As a result of the search, officers arrested 21-year-old Madysin Kirkpatrick-Tazby, 26-year-old Eden Pena, 35-year-old Even Pena, and 34-year-old Luis Sandoval. All four were charged with Gambling Promotion, Keeping a Gambling Place, and Possession of a Gambling Device. All three charges are class A misdemeanors under Texas law, punishable by up to a year in prison and/or a $4,000 fine. The three men were additionally charged with Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon after officers discovered they were all armed with handguns during the commission of another crime. Fourteen patrons of the game room were issued warning citations for gambling and released at the scene. During the search, Detectives seized gambling equipment, two vehicles, cash, and other evidence of illegal gambling.
NVID Detectives were assisted in the operation by officers with the CCPD Operations Division and the Organized Crime Unit, as well prosecutors with the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office, and investigators with the State of Texas Comptroller’s Office, which regulates coin operated machines.
The Corpus Christi Police Department continues to collaborate with our local state and federal partners to investigate and combat illegal gambling. Investigators will continue to enforce all Texas gambling laws, which will help accomplish our mission to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and to improve the quality of life in our community.
An anti-prostitution operation conducted by the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division Wednesday afternoon resulted in the arrests of five women on charges of prostitution. The women were arrested after they solicited an undercover CCPD Officer for sex acts in exchange for money. The operation targeted several online sites that are frequently used by escorts that are engaged in prostitution.
NVID Detectives were assisted in the operation by Operations Division Officers, as well as civilians with the Red Cord Initiative. The Red Cord Initiative is a prostitution diversion program aimed to provide practical and emotional support for those involved in prostitution. The program is successful due to the collaboration between the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation, social service organizations, the Nueces County District Attorney Office, and the Corpus Christi Police Department. The program affords those involved with sex work an opportunity to address the myriad of behavioral, social, and psychological problems they have faced throughout their lifetime. Since 2013, Red Cord has provided case management, health services, job training, substance abuse treatment, clothing, housing, counseling, and other social services needed to address the circumstances related to their involvement in prostitution. Participants who successfully complete the program have their cases dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.
Four of the women during the operation agreed to participate and were accepted into the program, the other was deemed ineligible due to prior convictions. Since its inception in 2013, 175 men and women have qualified for the program, and 36 have graduated from the program. The Red Cord initiative receives no government funding and is supported entirely through donations. To learn more, volunteer or donate, citizens can visit the Coastal Bend Wellness foundation at http://www.cbwellness.org.
Although often inaccurately referred to as a “victimless” crime, prostitution is inextricably linked to multiple other crimes including assault, human trafficking, sexual abuse, drug abuse, and the spread of sexually transmitted infectious disease. Neighborhoods where prostitution is prevalent experience a drastic degradation of the quality of life that citizens expect and deserve. The Corpus Christi Police Department will continue to collaborate with all government and private entities to combat prostitution and help accomplish our mission of working with the community to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and enhance public safety.
46-year-old Nathan Nichols entered a guilty plea in reference to operating illegal gambling businesses.
The criminal charges stemmed from an investigation initiated by the Corpus Corpus Christi Police Department Narcotics and Vice Division, with assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
Nichols was the co-owner of two local gambling businesses, both facilities containing illegal gaming devices. The establishments contained sweepstakes games which patrons operated by using computers and monitors, rather than casino-style equipment. The games are software-based and function as traditional slot-machine games or “8-liners.” However, the action of the slot-machine reels is simulated on a computer screen rather than on mechanical reels. Those playing the machines place bets before each spin and receive winnings in cash.
State Law dictates that an individual cannot win a wholesale value available from a single play of the game or device of not more than 10 times the amount charged to play the game or device once or $5, whichever is less.
Through their investigation, NVID Investigators requested and served an evidentiary search warrant at a residence belonging to Nichols. The search warrant was a culmination of an extensive, long-term investigation into the illegal gambling businesses. During the course of the evidentiary search, evidence of stolen government property was located. Homeland Security Investigators, along with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division led the investigation of the stolen Government Property.
All charges were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney’s with the US Department of Justice. During prosecution, Nichols admitted to operating illegal gambling businesses in Corpus Christi. As part of his guilty pleas, Nichols agreed to forfeit a total of $2,185,218.73, which were combined proceeds from his illegal activity. Sentencing has been set for June 21, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. Nichols faces up to five years in prison for each conviction.
Nichols has been and will remain in custody, pending that hearing.
Corpus Christi Police Department Narcotics and Vice Division intends to continue their efforts to investigate illegal gambling businesses in the near future.
Game rooms who afford a player an opportunity to obtain, and players who accept anything of value, will be charged accordingly. A violation of keeping a gambling place (47.04), possession of a gambling device (47.06), or promotion of gambling (47.03) are Class A misdemeanors; each punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000.
The Corpus Christi Police Department continues to collaborate with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and combat illegal gambling. Investigators will continue to enforce all Texas gambling laws, which will help accomplish our mission to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and to improve the quality of life in our community.
The Corpus Christi Police Department will work alongside the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office to aggressively enforce all gambling related offenses.
Through our partnerships, we can accomplish an enhanced positive impact not only on crime, but also on a variety of issues that impact our community.
At approximately 10:30 pm on Sunday, March 20, 2022, officers were dispatched to Comanche and Port, in reference to a Welfare Check.
The call notes provided that a woman was walking along the 2300 block of Comanche Street, asking bystanders to take her infant child.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with the reporting parties, as well as the offender and infant who is less than two-weeks old.
During the investigation, officers received information that 25-year-old Yessenia Cardenas was walking down the street and was attempting to give her infant away. The reporting parties told officers that they stopped to speak with Yessenia, and it was at this time that she offered the infant to them. The witnesses took possession of the child and immediately called 911.
The officers contacted a medic unit to check on the welfare of the infant and as well as Yessenia, as she appeared to be under the influence of an unknown narcotic. The officers also contacted Child Protection Services; a case worker was dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident.
At the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, the infant was taken into custody by Child Protective Services. Yessenia Cardenas was placed into custody and charged with Abandoning or Endangering a Child, which is a State Jail Felony.
At approximately 8:35 pm on March 18, 2022, officers were dispatched to the 11,000 block of Gulf Beach, near Mile Marker 199, for a citizen assist reference a disturbance. The call was quickly upgraded to a shooting with injuries.
Upon arrival, officers located 3 shooting victims. A male in his 30’s was described to have serious injuries and was last updated to be in critical condition. A 19-year-old male and a 16-year-old female were described to have non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers are working to positively identify a suspect and investigators are out on scene working to determine what led up to the shooting. As of this update, we do not have a suspect in custody.
As soon as we have additional suspect description or any additional information related to this investigation, we will update our blotter post accordingly.
If you have information related to this incident and would like to keep your identity secret, please call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=.
Investigators want your help to discover any new information that will help catch a murder suspect, with this Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week.
At approximately 3:00 am on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of Lincoln Street reference a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 17-year-old James Roy Ross with serious injuries sustained from being shot. James later succumbed to his injuries.
Officers were advised that James was standing out in his front yard when an unknown person fired shots in his direction, fatally striking him.
Today is the 11th anniversary of James’ death and we want to give his family some closure.
If you know who is responsible, or have any additional information about this murder, call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=. The information you provide to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.
CCPD Blotter 
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