Man Claims Assault During Property Tax Protest in Montgomery County

A Protest Gone Wrong

Travis Spencer, a licensed realtor, has long been skeptical of the appraisal district's methods. This skepticism led him to bring two cameras to a recent protest hearing, a decision he now says was crucial. During the hearing, which aimed to reduce the value of his Kingwood home, things took a turn for the worse.

Spencer was in the middle of presenting his case when he began questioning the accuracy of the appraisal district’s software. His presentation was abruptly interrupted by the chair of the appraisal board. “It did not go anywhere near the way I hoped it would go,” Spencer told ABC13. “They stopped my meeting when I still had two minutes, a violation of the law, and they kicked me out of the building.”

The video captured the heated exchange between Spencer and the appraisal board members. Despite the tension, the discussion remained controlled until the board asked Spencer to leave. As he exited, he continued recording and addressed the board chair directly, camera rolling.

“Sir, you think it's okay to bully me?” Spencer asked. The camera shakes as he continues, “He just grabbed me and assaulted me. He grabbed my camera. Sir, the man assaulted me.”

The other individual involved, Steven Friends, denied the accusation, stating, “I did not assault you.” However, Conroe police confirmed that Friends was charged with a class C misdemeanor assault. Meanwhile, Spencer received a no trespassing citation, indicating he was no longer allowed on the property.

Spencer claims this is exactly why he brought two cameras. “They monopolize the time. They stir people up,” he said. “So I knew that they would try to do that with me. So, when I went in there, I was prepared with a camera, but I was also prepared mentally.”

Property Taxes as a Personal Mission

Property taxes have become a personal mission for Spencer. He frequently shares his experiences on social media, and his recent post about the incident caught the attention of Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, who also shared it on Facebook.

Although the county judge has no direct connection to the county appraisal district, MCAD's chief appraiser issued a statement through their attorney. “While I understand that this issue has generated public interest and concern, MCAD's goal has always been to maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone. We have been monitoring the situation since the date of the incident, and after careful consideration, on July 25, 2025, made the determination to cease the no trespassing citation that was issued.”

Despite this development, Spencer is not done. “I'm trying to educate all of the residents of Montgomery County to look under the hood on what's really going on with their property taxes,” he said.

ABC13 reached out to the Appraisal Board’s lawyer and to Steve Friends, but neither has responded. Spencer still has another hearing scheduled next month, where he plans to bring his camera again.

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