Updated: March 11, 2009 07:37 AM CDT
CCPD Officer Killed In Line Of Duty During Pursuit





From the CCPD Press Release
The Corpus Christi Police Department Patrol is saddened to report that a veteran Patrol officer was struck and killed overnight by a fleeing motorist.
At approximately 11:53 PM, CCPD Patrol Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 4200 block of W. Teresa Street to investigate a disturbance. Upon arriving in the area, officers attempted to detain a 21 year old male suspect. After a brief struggle, the suspect entered his vehicle, a green SUV, and sped off. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect ignored the patrol car's emergency equipment and sped away. A pursuit ensued through the Molina neighborhood which lasted several minutes and then continued onto State Highway 358 west bound. Near the Agnes Street exit, the SUV struck a uniformed CCPD police officer who was standing in the grass shoulder near the freeway. The officer was transported to Spohn Memorial Hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
The suspect vehicle failed to stop and continued west bound on SH 358 where it exited onto Leopard Street. The pursuit continued east bound on Leopard Street where the suspect vehicle turned south bound on the SH 286 Access Road. Officers were able to box the suspect vehicle in with their patrol cars and stop the SUV between Comanche and Lipan Streets, but when officers attempted to remove the driver from the vehicle he began ramming their patrol cars and attempted to run them over. Fearing for their safety, two officers then discharged their weapons into the vehicle, striking the suspect (and only occupant) and ending the pursuit. The suspect was apprehended and transported to Spohn Memorial Hospital where he is under guard in the Intensive Care Unit with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. CID is continuing to investigate. Formal charges are pending.
The name of the officer, a 20 year veteran, is not being released until next of kin has been notified. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the officer and we humbly ask that members of the media respect their privacy during their time of grieving.
A press conference has been tentatively scheduled for 3:00 PM today in the Chief's Conference room. No further details or information will be released until that time.