The co-owner of a local jiu-jitsu studio told police a teenage student was injured by a nail trap allegedly placed by a neighboring doctor.
HOUSTON — A long-standing dispute between two neighboring businesses in the quiet coastal town of Seabrook has taken a disturbing turn. The owner of a local jiu-jitsu studio told police a teenage student was injured by a nail trap allegedly placed by a neighboring doctor.
Robert Lee, co-owner and instructor at Cross Collar Jiu-Jitsu, told KHOU 11 that tensions with the neighboring medical office — operated by a colon surgeon — have been simmering for years. But now, he says the conflict is putting people in danger.
“After we ended the parking agreement with the doctor, that’s when the trouble started,” Lee said.
Previously, the jiu-jitsu studio rented parking spaces from the doctor. But when that arrangement ended, students began parking two doors down at Shipley’s Donuts and walking through the doctor’s lot to reach the studio.
That’s when confrontations reportedly began.
“He started yelling. He seemed hostile,” student Mason Planto said.
According to Lee, tensions escalate quickly when someone accidentally parks on the doctor’s property.
“One of our students had mud on the windshield, something behind their tire, and rocks thrown at the hood,” Lee said.
But last week, things escalated beyond angry words. Lee said an 18-year-old student was seriously injured when he stepped on a hidden nail embedded in a piece of wood.
“It went through his flip-flop. He had to go to the emergency room,” Lee said.
Lee said he called police immediately and shared photos of what was found. The police report said they confiscated several boards with nails and screws sticking out of them.
According to a police report, authorities are investigating allegations that a business owner placed “traps outside the parking lot.”
Shortly after the incident, new signs were posted near the doctor’s property, warning of trespassing and claiming there’s rusted barbed wire buried underground.
KHOU 11 spoke to Shelby Moore, Professor of Law at South Texas College of Law, about the legal implications of setting up traps.
“Yes, they could face criminal and civil charges,” Moore said. “It’s a third-degree felony. It’s extremely dangerous to set up traps. Someone could be on the property for legitimate reasons — like a gas meter reader — and they could get seriously hurt or even killed.”
KHOU 11 reached out to the doctor’s office. They declined to comment.
Seabrook police confirmed that they are actively investigating the situation as a potential criminal offense. So far, no arrests have been made.
Meanwhile, Lee said he and his students are just looking for peace.
“We just want this to stop. When does it end?” he said.
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