Charles Wiley

Chief of Police

Narcotics Detectives recovered a black bag which was found to contain 16 bricks believed to be cocaine. The bricks were field tested and they tested positive for Cocaine. Based on the condition of the bag, it appeared that the bag had been in the water for sometime. Each brick was wrapped in a rubber wrapper, then in a large balloon and then wrapped again in a plastic wrap. Each had identifying markings and bar codes.

Detectives Joey Quiroga and David Roark were assigned this case for documentation and follow up investigation with the DEA.

RECOVERED –

16 – Cocaine Bricks  =  37 lbs 2oz  – Street Value :  Approximately 2.1 Million Dollars

Upon arriving at the emergency room, Officer Graves spoke with Ms. Ramos who advised her and her boyfriend, Carlos Hernandez-Munoz as well as a subject she only knew as Christian, were drinking on the beach near Murdoch’s Bath House on 23^rd Street.  Ms. Ramos advised Hernandez-Munoz was extremely intoxicated, and he asked her for $20 to go and buy some crack.  Ms. Ramos advised she wasn’t giving him any money, and Hernandez-Munoz became angry and pulled out a blue pocketknife stating “bitch, I’ll take your money”. 

Ms. Ramos advised she got up to try and get away from Mr. Hernandez-Munoz, but he was able to stab her with the knife in her left arm just above her elbow.  Officers observed a small puncture wound a little less than an inch in length.  Ms. Ramos advised she was able to get away, and ran across the Seawall northbound on 23^rd Street.  Ms. Ramos advised Hernandez-Munoz and Christian came after her on their bicycles, and she ran to Club 23 at 2009 23^rd Street. 

Ms. Ramos advised the 2 subjects caught up to her near the alley just south of Club 23, and Carlos pushed her down on the ground.  Ms. Ramos advised Carlos then grabbed her and bit her on her bottom lip, and somehow was able to bite her lower lip completely off her face.  Ms. Ramos advised Carlos and the other subject fled the area north on 23^rd Street.  Ms. Ramos advised she then ran into Club 23 pleading for someone to call the police, but the bartender just advised her to get out of the bar.  Ms. Ramos advised she ran across the street to Edgewater Retirement Center and was able to get the front desk clerk to call 9-1-1. 

Officer Graves was able to locate Mr. Hernandez-Munoz at 1500 25^th Street with the help of other officers.  Officer’s observed that Hernandez-Munoz still had the blue pocketknife on his person, and what appeared to be small specks of blood on the knife.

Ms. Ramos advised that she and Mr. Hernandez-Munoz have been romantically involved for over a year, and live in the same household.

Officer Graves arrested and charged the said Carlos Hernandez-Munoz (w/m 3/17/83) for the offense of Aggravated Assault W/Deadly Weapon with bond set at $100,000.00.

At approximately 4:00 pm, Officers deployed the undercover female officer in the 3100 block of Seawall and the Operation began. This Operation resulted in the arrested of 12 people for the listed violations below.

NAME                      RACE   DOB              CHARGE                          BOND       

Oscar Huerta              M/W   11-16-1976      PROSTITUTION               $ 5,000.00

Douglas D. Guillory  M/B    09-06-1985      PROSTITUTION               $ 5,000.00

Farook Alladin          M/W   02-02-1956       PROSTITUTION               $ 5,000.00

Jose A. Ramirez        M/W   08-26-1975       PROSTITUTION               $ 5,000.00

Aaron R. Wafer         M/B    08-28-1986       PROSTITUTION               $ 5,000.00

Francisco Barrios      M/W   07-23-1976       PROSTITUTION               $ 5,000.00

David K. Dearmore   M/W   06-03-1983       PROSTITUTION               $ 5,000.00

Harry Spiller              M/B    11-28-1940       PROSTITUTION              $ 5,000.00

Tomas Flores             M/W   09-12-1961       PROSTITUTION              $ 5,000.00

                                                                       10 – Municipal Warrants    $ 3,794.00

Lisa M. Leverton       F/W    02-01-1975      Obstruct Passage                 $ 5,000.00

Kennan D. Nolan       M/B    09-06-1989      Interfere W/Police                $ 144.00

Roshawn Johnson      M/B    04-01-1984      34 – Municipal Warrants    $ 14,554.00

             Upon arrival, officers were directed to a Hispanic male who was described as the suspect.  Witnesses stated the suspect had hit another man in the head with a bat.  Officers detained the suspect, identified as Alex Palomo (m/w, 9/22/75) of Pasadena, Texas.

            Officers spoke with one of the victims who advised he is an employee of Walmart.  The victim stated his friends had driven to the store to pick him up from work.  The victim stated as he walked towards the car, he observed a group of Hispanic males attempting to start a fight with his friends.  The victim states as he approached, he was punched in the face by the suspect for no reason.  The victim stated the suspect then had a baseball bat and started chasing people.  Two other victims were struck with the bat, one victim was struck in the head and the other in the left arm.

             A security guard stated an unknown male took the bat from Palomo and chased him across the parking lot.

 Both victims who were struck with the bat were transported to John Sealy Emergency Room, with non-life threatening injuries.

 Alex Palomo was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, bond is set at $500,000.00.

 Ariel Navor Ham (m/w, 1/28/1990), also of Pasadena, was arrested and charged with Interfering with a Public Servant as officers were attempting to arrest Palomo, who Ham stated was his uncle.  Bond for Ham was set at $1,500.00.

                                                Press Release

            On Wednesday, April 7, 2010, Officers of the Galveston Vice & Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at 2412 44^th St. in the Mid-Town Community. This lengthy investigation was headed by Narcotics Detective Rene Vela. The Narcotics Division conducted many hours of surveillance and collecting evidence of illegal drug transactions. Officers witnessed a vehicle leave this address with one of the targets of this investigation and they followed it. Officers had prior knowledge that the target had an outstanding felony warrant and the vehicle was stopped on traffic. Officers collected more evidence from the vehicle stopped and all 3 occupants were arrested. Detective Vela then made application for a search warrant, which was approved and signed by the Honorable Susan Criss of the 212^th District Court of Galveston County.

      At approximately 8:51 pm, the Narcotics Tactical Unit arrived to execute the search warrant and witnessed 3 adults outside the target home. Officers detained the 3 persons outside and made entry to the premise. Officers located another female, 3 children ( ages 6, 9, & 12) and one infant inside the home. Officers then requested a K-9 unit from the Dickinson Police Department to assist in the search for narcotics in the residence. Officers released the children to a relative and the search warrant was executed. Officers found several illegal substances and pills in their search. This operation resulted in the recovery of 3.2 grams of Methamphetamine, 23 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy), 13.8 grams of Soma, 2 ounces of Cocaine, one handgun and seizure of $ 991.00 in cash. Listed below are the persons arrested in this Operation.

NAME               RACE        DOB          CHARGE                               BOND________

Marcus Pelaez      M/W   04-11-1976    POCS PG 1 >= 4g<200gW/Intent    $ 40,000.00

                                                                POCS PG 2 >=4g<400gW/Intent     $ 40,000.00

                                                                POCS PG 1 >=1g<4g W/Intent        $ 25,000.00

                                                                Poss of Misc. Substance                   $   5,000.00

Brittney Proctor     F/W   09-20-1991    POCS PG 1 >= 4g<200gW/Intent    $ 40,000.00

                                                                POCS PG 2 >=4g<400gW/Intent     $ 40,000.00

                                                                POCS PG 1 >=1g<4g W/Intent        $ 25,000.00

Robert G. Brock     M/W   07-26-1985  POCS PG 1 < 1g                              $ 40,000.00

                                                               Probation Viol-Manslaughter           $ No Bond

Shane Irish              M/B   12-21-1984    No Seat Belt                                     $  167.00

 Martha Santibanez  F/W    03-22-1979   Unsafe Speed                                    $ 345.00

            Officer Fillmore began checking other businesses in the area and found the Taco House restaurant, also in the 5000 block of Broadway, had been broken into.  Officers entered the business to look for suspects but the building was empty.  While processing the scene for evidence, Officer Fillmore located a cell phone on the floor.  The business owner arrived and stated the cell phone did not belong to him.  Officer Fillmore found the phone to belong to a subject named Robert Berger.

            At approximately 6:00am, Officer Popovich was dispatched to the 2400 block of 53^rd Street, the Step n Go, in reference to a burglary alarm.  Upon arrival, Officer Popovich observed the front glass door to be broken.  The business owner arrived on location and Officer Popovich was able to view the video camera system which captured the burglary and video of the suspect.  Officer Popovich broadcast the suspect description over the radio.

            At approximately the same time, Officer Horton was investigating a burglary of the Avenue S Food Store located in the 5700 block of Ave S.  Officer Horton was viewing video footage of the burglary at this location and the suspect description broadcast by Officer Popovich matched the suspect in this burglary as well.

            A short time later, Officer Lorraine Franco observed a suspect fitting the description at 44^th and Avenue R who was running and gave chase.  Officers Davis and Benavides responded to the area and the suspect was apprehended in the 4300 block of Avenue Q ½.  The suspect was identified as Robert Lee Berger.

            Officer Popovich advised Berger that it was not a good idea to leave your cell phone at the scene of a crime, to which Berger stated “Yeah, you may as well put that on World’s Dumbest Criminals.” 

            Robert Lee Berger, m/w, 8/30/1966, is charged with 3 counts of Burglary of a Building and one count of Felony Evading Arrest, bond is set at $60,000.00 for each charge ($240,000.00).

Prepared by,

Capt. Jeff Heyse

Investigative Services Bureau

Galveston Police Department

For a full list of charges and images of those arrested click here.