Douglass High School Principal Assaulted in the Past

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A high school principal attacked by a man on campus has been the victim of at least one other assault on school grounds.

Brian Staples, principal of Frederick Douglass High School, was assaulted in the school's parking lot Tuesday afternoon.

While principal at Oklahoma City's Capitol Hill High School, Staples was punched in the face by a student and his personal vehicle was vandalized, according to faculty who worked with Staples at Capitol High.

"He did mention he was involved in another incident at Capitol High," said Oklahoma City Public Schools Spokeswoman Tierney Cook, but she couldn't elaborate on that case.

Staples was back at work Wednesday despite suffering several blows to his legs with a billy club.

Several students and faculty members said the attack this week was likely related to escalating racial tensions between the Staples and the student body and staff.

The district has declined to comment on those allegations.

Retired Head Football Coach Ron Kroeger said the allegations do not surprise him after working with Staples at Capitol Hill and Northeast high schools.

"You couldn't trust him because you didn't know how he was going to be or what he was going to do from day to day," Kroeger said.

Kroeger said he thinks its why a group of students jumped Staples at Capitol Hill High School in 2001 and vandalized his car. Before Staples transferred to Douglass High in 2008, Kroeger said he warned him.

"I said 'you go to Douglass, you can't treat those kids like you do here at Northeast, because you'll be in trouble. You're going to get it,'" Kroeger said.

The man police are looking for from Tuesday's assault is described as black male, 5' 10", 200 lbs, with a muscular build. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark blue "hoodie" type sweat shirt, black pants, and black/white shoes. He was armed with a black club.

Anyone with information about the attack should call Crime Stoppers at 405-235-7300.

Brian Staples' Employment History with OKCPS:
- 1990 Northeast Academy Science Teacher
- 1995 Northeast HS assistant principal
- 1998 Principal at Taft MS
- 1999 Principal at Capitol Hill HS
- 2001 Area Administrator (Regional Executive Director)
- 2003 Director of Professional Development
- 2004 Principal at NE Academy
- 2008 Principal at Douglass HS

More on News9.com: Former Student Says Attack on Douglass Principal Likely Motivated by Race