KEMAH — A video that has gone viral on Facebook, which appears to show a Texas City police officer striking a man during an arrest in Kemah, is now drawing additional context after Texas City Police issued a press release Tuesday evening.

The department identified the officer as Officer Behler, a deputized member of the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office serving with the Galveston County Crime Reduction Unit Task Force.

According to police, the incident occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 11, when Officer Behler spotted a vehicle displaying a fraudulent license plate in the parking lot of Ulta, located at 417 FM 517. The driver, identified as Weston Mabee, allegedly admitted to purchasing the plate online and refused lawful commands.

Officers say Mabee made repeated attempts to return to his vehicle. When escorted to the front of a patrol unit, police allege he struck Officer Behler in the face with a closed fist. Mabee was placed in hand restraints but continued to be combative, according to the department.

Additional officers responded and placed Mabee in “The Wrap,” which police describe as a safety restraint designed to reduce the risk of injury to both the subject and officers.

Galveston County jail records show Mabee was charged with Assault on a Public Servant, a third-degree felony, and booked into the county jail on a $100,000 bond.

The video, recorded by Alexis Aubert and shared on Facebook, captures portions of the physical struggle but does not show the events before or after. In the footage, Aubert (Mabee’s wife) can be heard telling officers she was school shopping with her son when the incident occurred.

Aubert contacted KGTX 7 to dispute the police account of the incident.

“Never once was my husband getting back in the car. He was going to get our daughter out of the car.”

Aubert added that the officer “never identified himself once,” and that her husband repeatedly asked, “Why? What’s going on?” but received no response.

Aubert further alleged the officer “just told my husband repeatedly, ‘come here, come here,’” and that when she tried to provide information about the license plate, “that’s when he grabbed my husband and threw him on the ground.”

KGTX 7 has filed a public information request for body camera footage from the arrest and will provide updates as more details become available.

Photo credit: Alexis Aubert, FB and GCSO Mugshot Database

Editor’s Note: A statement from Alexis Aubert was added, after initial publication of this story. It has been updated to reflect that.