Update on In-Custody Death

On Sunday February 12th at about 2:14 AM, the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Corpus Christi Fire Department were called to a home in the 1700 block of Morales to assist a man who was reportedly having difficulty breathing. The responding public safety personnel discovered a 48-year-old man displaying obvious signs of medical distress.  Sr. Officer Mike Wertanen and Officer Brandon Cordell assisted the medics by restraining the man and placing him in handcuffs.  This allowed the medics to provide emergency medical treatment.  Medics subsequently transported the man by ambulance to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. 

Today, March 15, 2012, the Nueces County Medical Examiner ruled the death as a homicide.  Although a homicide means that the nature of the death was not natural, it does not indicate the death was caused by any wrongdoing.

The Corpus Christi Police Department Criminal Investigation Division will continue with the investigation into the matter.  Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the grand jury.  This is the standard procedure in all in-custody deaths.

As is also standard procedure, an internal administrative review that was started immediately following the event will continue.  This review will determine if the policies and procedures of the Corpus Christi Police Department were followed.

The Officers involved will remain on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation and the ruling by the Grand Jury.

Information released on February 15, 2012 by the Corpus Christi Police Department

Corpus Christi Police Department Homicide Detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of a 48 year-old man who died following a struggle with police officers and medics early Sunday morning at a home in the 1700 block of Morales Street. On Sunday February 12th at about 2:14 AM, the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Corpus Christi Fire Department were called to the home to assist a man who was reportedly having difficulty breathing. The responding public safety personnel discovered a 48-year-old man displaying obvious signs of medical distress. Before he could be treated, the man began struggling with the medics. Officers assisted the medics by restraining the man and placing him in handcuffs. Officers did not deploy their Tasers nor utilize pepper spray to subdue the man. After being handcuffed, the man suddenly quit breathing. Officers immediately removed the handcuffs so the medics could begin CPR. Medics then rushed the man by ambulance to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Homicide Detectives are continuing to interview witnesses to the incident, including family members and the emergency personnel who responded to the scene. The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office has completed an autopsy on the man, but the final report has not yet been released pending the results of certain tests. Two of the responding Officers have been placed on Administrative Leave, which is standard Police Department procedure in all such instances. They are Senior Officer Mike Wertanen, a 22 year veteran of the Police Department, and Officer Brandon Cordell, who has four years with CCPD. The Officers will remain on leave pending the outcome of a thorough investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division. Once the investigation is completed it will be submitted to the District Attorneys Office and presented to the Grand Jury, which is standard procedure in all in-custody deaths.

 Note: Click here to see the original information released by the Corpus Christi Police Department http://wp.me/p1D8kP-11H

Fatal Accident

Occurred 2/24/12 at 4:48 PM     200 Louisiana     C1201406

Officers responded to a medical trauma call at a residence in the 200 block of Louisiana on Friday evening at about 4:48 PM.  At the home they discovered a 15-month-old male child who had been run over in the driveway of the home. 

The incident happened as a 52-year-old man was backing out of the driveway in a 2011 white Dodge Pick-Up.  There was a 53-year-old female in the vehicle also.

The child was rushed by ambulance to Driscoll Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 5:50 PM.

The tragic incident appears accidental.  No charges have been filed and there are no plans to file charges against anyone reference this incident.

Any updates to this incident will be released by the Corpus Christi Police Department PIO at www.ccpdblotter.com.

Fight Over Woman Ends in Stabbing

Occurred on February 24, 2010 12:21AM     Comanche St & Tancahua St     Aggravated Assault     1202240004

Officers responding to a reported stabbing found the victim at the corner of Comanche and Tancahua Streets. The 28-year-old man, who had been stabbed in the lower left abdomen,  told officers that he and another man, Samuel Flores (DOB: 7/23/1968), had been fighting over a woman. The victim then told officers that Flores stabbed him in the side with a small pocket knife during the fight.  The man was taken to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital by ambulance for treatment of a non-life threatening injury.

A short time later, officers located Flores downtown.  Flores was still in possession of the knife.  Flores was arrested for aggravated assault and transported the City Detention Center. 

Gang Roundup

            On February 21, 2012, the Corpus Christi Police Department spearheaded a multi-agency ‘Round-Up’ of wanted gang members.  The ‘Round-Up,’ organized by the Corpus Christi Police Gang Unit, was a concerted effort by numerous local law enforcement agencies to take gang members off the street in an effort to reduce crime, the fear of crime, and enhance public safety.

            The plan started over a month ago, when Gang Unit Captain Donnie Mersing asked the CCPD Crime Analysis and Tactical Intelligence Center (CATIC) to compile a list of wanted Corpus Christi Gang Members.  The list included 122 names.  As the list was being put together, some gang members were arrested immediately, based on a need to keep Corpus Christi safe; and others were arrested out of the course of routine business.  It was also determined that 23 of the wanted gang members were already in jail or prison on other charges.  The final list for the ‘Round-Up’ included the names of 93 gang members.

            About 70 Law Enforcement Officials participated in the ‘Round-Up’ during its first day of operation and apprehended 12 gang members and 7 other individuals.  In addition to the initial warrants, charges on the gang members and the other individuals include: Controlled Substance, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Failure to Identify, Public Intoxication, and Municipal Court Warrants.

            The ‘Round-Up’ also yielded a search warrant based on information found during one of the arrests.  The search warrant produced 8 guns, suspected cocaine, marijuana, and over $7000.00 cash.  The search warrant was executed at 2538 Dunbar, the same location that Jose Garcia 7/18/1985 was arrested.

 

 

The gang members arrested on the first day of the ‘Round-Up’ include:

1. Alberto Cabrera 1/6/1969
2. Eusebio Castillo 2/12/1980
3. Pascual Chavana 8/24/1971
4. Ramiro Cuellar 2/26/1994 (also charged with – Failure to Identify)
5. Daniel Garcia 4/7/1990
6. Jose Garcia 7/18/1985 (also charged with – Possession of Controlled Substance, Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon, Unlawful Possession of Body Armor)
7. John Guerra 3/4/1977
8. Jesse Martinez 8/21/1983 (also charged with – Possession of Controlled Substance)
9. Joshua Moya 5/2/1990
10. Ruben Perez 4/8/1993
11. Lon Radcliff 8/20/1987
12. Gregory Reed 8/4/1975

One gang member, likely with knowledge of the ‘Round-Up,’ turned himself into the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office yesterday.  He is Larry Torres 6/10/1977.

The 7 other individuals arrested yesterday are:

1. Aaron Bell 6/5/1987 (also charged with – Possession of Controlled Substance)
2. Hector Borrego 12/29/1972
3. Benjamin Noblett 1/24/1981
4. Monique Ramirez 12/17/80
5. Kayla Rosales 6/20/1994 (also charged with – Failure to Identify)
6. Randall Trevino 1/15/1971
7. Charles Young 2/22/1966 (also charged with – Public Intoxication)

The agencies that participated in the ‘Round-Up’ include:

• Corpus Christi Police Department
• Alcohol Tobacco Firearms
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Immigration Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations
• Naval Criminal Investigative Service
• Nueces County Sheriff’s Office
• United States Marshall’s
• Texas Department of Public Safety

The ‘‘Round-Up’’ has continued today, and will continue tomorrow.  So far today, there have been six gang members and one other individual arrested for warrants.

Gang Members:

1. Dylan Ayala 8/21/1991
2. Christopher Cantera 11/29/1988
3. Darrell Ewers 2/9/1978
4. Armando Flores 8/16/1981
5. Edwardo Rocio 01/15/1993
6. Jose Ramirez 09/25/1992

Others:

• Stacy Nesmith 9/15/1983

The gang members arrested prior to the ‘Round-Up’ are:

• Juventino Castro 4/29/1981
• Anthony Diaz 9/21/1983
• Rudolfo Garcia 11/3/1992
• Larry Lee 1/29/78
• Roland Rodela 1/19/81
• Christian Saenz 9/8/76

 At the end of the ‘Round-Up,’ the information about the remaining wanted gang members will be distributed to the Corpus Christi Police Department Patrol Division Officers who will continue looking for these wanted individuals. 

The Corpus Christi PIO Office will provide further information on the ‘Round-Up’ results over the next few days.

Overnight Robber Arrested

Occurred on February 22, 2012 3:17 AM     Aggravated Robbery      3302 Baldwin     1202220007

 Officers responded to an overnight robbery at the Stripes store at 3302 Baldwin.  A local Green-N-Go Taxi Driver observed the robbery in progress and quickly called the police.  Prior to Officers arriving at the store, the robber left the store, got into a car, and drove away.  The taxi driver followed in the taxi.

When the two cars stopped at a red light at Baldwin and Cortez, the taxi driver exited the cab and told the robber to get out of his car. The robber was armed with a knife that was displayed during the robbery, but the robber complied with the taxi drivers demand to wait for police to arrive.

The robber was identified as John Gillespie 12/17/1983.  He was arrested and taken to jail.

Officer injured after being struck by tire

On Monday evening, 2/13/12, at about 6:48PM, Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a traffic accident in the 5000 block of SH 358 (SPID) east bound between Everhart and Staples (C1201106). The vehicles involved in the accident were pulled over on the right shoulder of the highway.

At about 7:02PM, while working the accident, a police Officer on the passenger side of one of the vehicles was struck from behind by a tire. The tire knocked the Officer into the car he was standing next to. Although there were other Officers at the scene, and witnesses in the original vehicle, no one saw where the tire came from. It is possible the tire came off a trailer or out of a truck bed and the driver had no knowledge of the tire loss. It is also unknown if the tire came from a vehicle on the highway or the access road. The tire did not come off of either of the cars involved in the first accident.

The 29-year-old male Officer, is believed to have sustained a broken leg. He was taken to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital by ambulance. A 20-year-old male, who had stepped from one of the vehicles involved in the first crash, was ‘brushed’ by the tire before it struck the Officer. He was treated and released by Medics at the scene.

CCPD Traffic investigators were called to the scene to investigate the second accident (C1201109).  The highway and the access road were both closed during the investigation. The highway was re-opened at 9:11PM.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to speak to anyone who may know where the tire came from. If you have information about this accident please call the Police Department at 886-2600, or you can call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS if you wish to remain anonymous.

Any additional information about this accident will be released by the CCPD PIO Office at www.ccpdblotter.com.

CCPD Investigating Death of Local Man Following Struggle with Police and Medics

On Sunday February 12th at about 2:14 AM, the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Corpus Christi Fire Department were called to a home in the 1700 block of Morales Street to assist a man who was reportedly having difficulty breathing.

Officers arrived at the home at 2:17 AM and Fire Fighters arrived at 2:18 AM.  The responding public safety personnel discovered a 48-year-old man displaying obvious signs of medical distress. Before he could be treated, the man began struggling with the Medics.  Officers assisted the Medics by restraining the man and handcuffing him.  Officers did not deploy their Tasers to subdue the man. After being handcuffed, the man suddenly quit breathing.  Officers immediately removed the handcuffs so the Medics could begin CPR.  Medics then rushed the man by ambulance to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Two of the responding Officers have been placed on Administrative Leave, which is standard Police Department procedure in such instances. The Officers will remain on leave pending the outcome of a thorough investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division.  The man’s name is being witheld pending notification of family members and will be released by the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Any additional information about this incident will be released by the Corpus Christi Police Department PIO Office on www.ccpdblotter.com.

Attempted Kidnapping

Occurred on 2/10/12, 3:15 AM     Attempted Kidnapping     5200 Weber     1202100020

Officer responded to an attempted abduction call and contacted an 18-year-old woman.  She told Officers that she was walking in front of businesses on the 5200 block of Weber Rd, when a man grabbed her from behind and attempted to put his hand over her mouth.  She was able get away from the man’s grasp, kick him, and run away.  She went home and called the police.

Officers unsuccessfully searched the area looking for the man who was described as a Hispanic male, about 40-years-old with a mustache.  He was said to be about 5 foot 6 inches and about 200 pounds, black hair / brown eyes, wearing a blue wind breaker and blue jeans.

Anyone with knowledge about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS.  You will remain anonymous and could earn a cash reward.

Traffic Accident

Occurred on 2/8/12, 04:09 AM   Traffic Accident   4500 Weber   C1200953 

At about 4:10 AM Thursday morning, Officers responded to a vehicle accident in the 4500 block of Weber Rd.  They discovered a 19-year-old man had fallen asleep at the wheel and ran into a power pole, knocking it over.  The man was the only person inside the 2004 Black Ford truck.  After striking the pole, the truck continued through a fence and stopped against the outside wall of a house.  Luckily, no one was injured. 

The power pole and wires on the ground caused Weber Road to be blocked until about 10:15 AM.

The driver of the truck was cited for failure to maintain a single lane of travel.

CCPD Police Chief Candidates Announced

City Manager, Ron Olson, announced the five candidates selected for interviews for the City of Corpus Christi Chief of Police earlier today. The selection process began in December when former Police Chief Troy Riggs was promoted to Assistant City Manager of Safety, Health and Neighborhoods. The national search for the next Chief of Police was conducted by the Police Executive Search Forum. The Chief of Police oversees the Police Department with 451 sworn officers, 260 civilians and a budget of over $70 million. The five candidates include:

Joel F. Fitzgerald, Sr. of Missouri City, Texas – Over 20 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Chief of Police for Missouri City and the City of Philadelphia Police Department.

Geraldine J. Garcia of San Antonio, Texas – Over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Assistant Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of Police with the City of San Antonio Police Department.

Sean Mannix of Austin, Texas – Over 29 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Assistant Chief of Police with the City of Austin.

Floyd D. Simpson of Dallas, Texas – Over 25 years of law enforcement experience. Most recently as the Assistant Chief of Police for the City of Dallas.

CCPD Commander Mark Schauer

Mark Schauer of Corpus Christi, Texas – Over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Most recent experience includes Commander of Support Services and Commander of Uniform Division for the Corpus Christi Police Department.