Houston and Spring Branch ISD Police Departments arrest suspect on separate felony counts in connection with incidents of exposure

A Spring Branch ISD Police Department investigation and joint collaboration with the Houston Police Department have led to the arrest of a Spring Branch man and the filing of felony related charges in connection with incidents of indecent exposure near SBISD schools recently.

SBISD applauds the extraordinary effort by the SBISD Police Department, and it is especially thankful to HPD’s Northwest Division Captain Rick Bonds and to all his officers for teamwork with SBISD Police during this recent investigation.

Arrested on May 21 by Houston Police after a joint police investigation was David Gonzalez, 33, a Hispanic male, who has been charged separately by Houston and Spring Branch police departments with one count of indecency with a child by exposure. Bond has been set at $60,000 for the two, third-degree felonies.

According to police, the suspect was arrested May 21 on a warrant. Police said that Gonzalez is believed to be the adult male who exposed himself to students near a bus stop at 8600 Pitner on May 13, and then again with students along Hammerly at Shadowdale near Spring Oaks Middle School on the same morning.

On the same day, police received a report of a nude man standing outside a vehicle parked near Tiger Trail at Shadowdale.

Joint police efforts included community reports, including a description of a white, two-door vehicle, and SBISD campus surveillance from an incident months ago in which an adult male in a white vehicle was observed by school security cameras.

“A joint effort by the Spring Branch ISD and the Houston Police Departments have brought this suspect to justice,” SBISD Chief of Police Chuck Brawner said during a May 22 press conference held at the SBISD Police Command Station.

SBISD students did the right thing when confronted by this stranger, Police Chief Brawner said.

“All of the children did the right thing in these situations – they got away from the suspect quickly. All of our children did a really good job of doing the correct thing under the circumstances.” No students were physically hurt during the May 13 incidents.

Chief Brawner credited the traditional police work done by SBISD Police Officers Dwayne Hernandez, who is a Lead Investigator, and Cindy Garcia, who helped the district and HPD coordinate efforts and interviews.

The SBISD Police Chief had a frank warning during the joint press conference for potential criminals or trespassers in Spring Branch ISD, noting that a school-based surveillance photograph assisted the investigating officers with a description of the suspect’s vehicle.

“Our [closed circuit digital] cameras operate around all of our schools. A picture was taken by a surveillance camera at Northbrook High School when the suspect approached two students. I really don’t mind if everyone knows that we do have these cameras operating on all our school campuses,” Chief Brawner said.

The safety of every student is the highest priority in SBISD. The collaboration in police work on this particular case has led to safer schools and neighborhoods.