CYPRESS, Texas – Several videos have emerged raising questions about the conduct of a Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District officer. Concerned parents shared footage with KPRC 2 from a recent altercation at Cypress Springs High School, which has sparked a debate for multiple reasons.
In a 42-second clip, the officer is seen attempting to break up a fight by grabbing a student, lifting him, and forcefully slamming him to the ground. The student’s mother, along with others, has since voiced concerns about excessive force, accusing the district of covering up for the officer.
To complicate matters, a student who recorded the fight on her phone was suspended the following day for violating the school’s cell phone policy. Her parent expressed outrage, claiming the punishment was an attempt to suppress the evidence.
According to the district police, the student involved had charged at an assistant principal during the fight and allegedly tried to grab an officer’s gun from her holster. They say the officer’s actions were necessary to prevent a dangerous situation.
Cy-Fair ISD released this statement about the incident:
“While being escorted to the office, a juvenile at Cypress Springs HS threatened and then attempted to charge at an assistant principal. One of our officers stepped between them to stop the juvenile. The officer was trying to detain the juvenile to prevent further violence. The female officer fell to the ground while attempting to assist her partner officer.
“The juvenile then reached around the female officer, grabbed her service weapon, and tried to remove it from its holster. The second officer (male) grabbed the juvenile and pulled him away. The juvenile continued to hold on to the gun, and the officer picked the student up and took him to the ground.
“In the cell phone video provided by the media, you can see the juvenile immediately get up from the ground and continue to fight with several individuals, including school staff and the officers. The incident remains under investigation.”
The student involved and his mother told KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun that the district is lying to protect the officer’s actions. She accused the district of trying to protect the officer’s image rather than seeking the truth.
Since the original report aired, two more videos have surfaced showing the same school officer involved in other incidents with students.
When we asked the district about the videos showing Office Nmamdi Onubogu. Here’s how they responded:
Good afternoon,
Officer Onubogu was in each of the three videos you forwarded to me.
The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Police Department (CFPD) is aware of the incident last week at Cypress Springs High School involving the use of force by one of our officers. We take these matters seriously and are committed to a thorough and impartial review process. It is important to understand that all the facts surrounding this incident must be carefully considered before any conclusions are drawn, and viewing a portion of a video in isolation may be misleading. CFPD has a comprehensive four-part administrative review process for all use of force incidents. This process ensures that every aspect of the situation is evaluated against the policy parameters and upholds accountability and transparency.
The officer involved in this incident is currently in good standing and has not been the subject of any previous Internal Affairs investigations while employed with the department.
We encourage citizens who feel they have a legitimate concern or complaint to follow the established process by submitting a formal complaint to the department. Information regarding the complaint procedure is readily available from any CFPD staff. The CFPD follows the legal guidelines outlined in the Texas Government Code, §614.022, which specifies the procedure for filing formal complaints against law enforcement officers. We welcome valid complaints about our services and personnel, as maintaining public trust and accountability is essential to the safety of our school district and the broader Cy-Fair community.
Watch the videos below and tell us if you agree with the officer’s actions.
