Kyle, TX Man Arrested in Buda After Violent Altercation With Students During Protest
BUDA, Texas — Buda police have arrested 45-year-old Chad Michael Watts of Kyle in connection with a physical altercation that erupted during a student walkout protest near Johnson High School on Monday. The arrest was announced after footage of the incident spread online and raised concerns about adult involvement in the clash.
The confrontation began around 3 p.m. near RM 967 and FM 1626 as hundreds of Hays Consolidated Independent School District students walked out in protest of ICE actions. Videos show a verbal dispute between a male adult and a teenage girl that quickly turned physical.
Buda officers were already on scene for traffic safety when they were called to reports of a fight in progress. Though the man initially left before police arrived, he was later located, interviewed, and taken into custody on Tuesday.
Police charged Watts with two counts of assault causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor, after determining through investigation that he was the primary aggressor in the altercation.
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“This was an unacceptable escalation that placed students at risk,” a police spokesperson said in a department statement.
Both Watts and the involved student reported minor injuries but declined emergency medical care at the scene.
The walkout was one of several in Hays County and drew a large law enforcement presence to maintain order and safety while students marched and held signs.
The ongoing investigation could lead to further charges as authorities continue reviewing video and witness accounts.
What happens next is a review by the Hays County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide on formal prosecution and any additional legal actions.
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