By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
Two Spring Breakers have died on South Padre Island in the last week, and the decapitated body of an Edinburg resident was found in the bay near the Convention Centre. South Padre Island police have also made 166 arrests as of Saturday, March 14, according to a document released by the City. All of this comes at the height of the tourist season’s busiest week, Texas Week.
On Saturday, March 14 a 24-year-old Katy man was found dead at the South Padre Island Condominiums. He was identified as Ruben Diaz and had been in the Laguna Madre region with his brother and four friends for Spring Break. He was found at approximately 11 a.m., according to information released by the City. Diaz was pronounced dead by Cameron County Justice of the Peace Bennie Ochoa. The man reportedly suffered from seizures and currently foul play is not suspected in his death. An autopsy was ordered for Wednesday, but as of press time, no additional information was available.
A Los Fresnos woman fell to her death from a 7 story balcony at Padre South Hotel at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The 21-year-old, identified as Nereida Cruz, was also on the Island to celebrate Spring Break. She was pronounced dead by Ochoa, as well. The fall is not believed to be alcohol related, but the death is still under investigation. Authorities believe Cruz slipped from the railing as she tried to adjust her balance.
Local law enforcement have also had their hands full responding to hundreds of calls as the Island has steadily filled up with fun seekers. “Our calls have been like seizures or alcohol poisoning I heard a minute ago. We’re getting cuts on feet, that kind of stuff,” said SPI Police Chief Randy Smith Tuesday.
” Right now we’ve been showing less numbers on the Island than in the years before, yet it seems like the number of calls — we still remain to be pretty busy. Our majority is probably intoxicated calls, as we know, and then secondary calls that stream from that have been simple assault calls attached to those,” he added.
PDF of South Padre Island arrests from March 1 through March 14:
ARRESTS BY VIOLATION 31-314_ 2015
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