Man arrested after altercation at student walkout in Buda

HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Chad Michael Watts, 45, of Kyle, was arrested by the Buda Police Department Tuesday in connection with a fight that occurred with a female minor, which escalated to involve multiple students during the student- led walkout in Buda.

Buda PD stated in a Facebook post that “it was determined that Watts was the primary aggressor in the physical altercation.” Watts was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury related to the incident.

Hays CISD students were protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at multiple campuses on Monday. This was following a nationwide call for protests that occurred on Friday, Jan. 30.

There was also a protest in Kyle, where two students were arrested on unrelated alcohol charges.

Buda Police Department posted to Facebook that students were conducting a walkout protest on RM 967, and law enforcement from the Buda Police Department, Hays County Sheriff ’s Office and Hays County Constable’s Office Pct. 5 responded to monitor the scene. Around 3 p.m., Buda PD stated that officers were dispatched to the intersection of RM967 and FM1626 for a fight in progress.

“Upon arrival, officers were notified that a female juvenile on the sidewalk and an adult male in a vehicle were engaged in a verbal argument,” Buda PD stated. “The argument escalated into a physical altercation involving multiple people. Both primary parties involved were identified and the situation remains under investigation.”

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra posted a statement involving the Buda incident to his Facebook page.

“Video circulating from the scene appears to show an adult confronting students with visible hostility, followed by an escalation that resulted in physical contact involving a minor,” Becerra said. “No matter one’s political views, an adult bears a clear responsibility to exercise restraint, especially in the presence of children. Violence or intimidation directed at a minor — particularly during a lawful, peaceful demonstration — has no place in a constitutional republic that depends on the rule of law rather than force.”

In the other protest, Kyle Police Department posted to Facebook that approximately 500 students had walked to downtown, where officers were monitoring the scene. Kyle PD stated that two juveniles were arrested after officers noticed a minor in possession of alcohol and stressed that these arrests were unrelated to protest activity.

“One juvenile was charged with assault on a public servant, resisting arrest, interfering with public duties, consumption and possession of alcohol by a minor,” the post stated. “The other juvenile was charged with resisting arrest and interfering with public duties. Additional charges may be forthcoming.”

A statement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott commended those arrests and threatened the removal of school funding. It was unclear if Abbott was referencing the students arrested for underage possession of alcohol in Kyle or if he was referring to the physical altercation in Buda, in which the adult was arrested as opposed to the students. At the time the comments were made, the adult had not been arrested and the Buda incident was still under investigation.

“It’s about time students like this were arrested. Harming someone is a crime – even for students. Disruptive walkouts allowed by schools lead to just this kind of chaos,” Abbott said. “Schools and staff who allow this behavior should be treated as coconspirators and should not be immune for criminal behavior. We are also looking into stripping the funding of schools that abandon their duty to teach our kids the curriculum required by law.”

Hays County Commissioner Michelle Cohen, who represents the Kyle and Buda area in Precinct 2, admonished the man who “attacked” the student in Buda, as well as Abbott in a Facebook post. “Disagreements never justify violence, especially from a grown adult against our students who were peacefully participating in their First Amendment rights, and I condemn these actions of violence against our students,” Cohen stated. “Not only that, but Governor Abbott has now gone out of his way to attack our students and schools, claiming students should be arrested, threatening to withhold funding, and labeling schools and staff as ‘coconspirators.’” Hays CISD said it did not condone the walkout as “leaving class without permission or skipping class is against the rules” and that there are rules in place for when campus can be used for nonschool related activities.

“Students who chose to participate in the walkouts did so on their own accord and classes continued for students who did not participate,” Hays CISD stated. “Students who left campus without permission during the school day will receive unexcused absences and face other potential, applicable disciplinary action.”

Hays CISD stated that as a government entity, it remains neutral on “matters that are politically charged.” The district acknowledged the “current climate in the country” and said that it respected that students may feel compelled to exercise their rights to free speech and expression.

“Sometimes, individuals feel so motivated to express their views that, upon weighing the potential consequences of breaking the rules, they are willing to accept the ramifications of their actions,” Hays CISD stated. “The district hopes that all students, regardless of their positions on the issues or choices whether to participate in the protests, will use this as a learning opportunity to better understand their rights and freedoms, and the responsibilities that accompany them.”