HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston park ranger has been arrested and charged with official oppression following a man’s harrowing experience at Cullen Park.
Joey Lamar Ellis, 33, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department confirmed they were notified about the arrest. According to city records, Ellis has been employed since 2019.
Houston police reported that officers were called to Cullen Park on Saums Road around 3 a.m. for a robbery. There, they met Joshua Beede, who spoke to on Tuesday night.
“It’s not right what he (Ellis) did,” Beede said.
Beede recounted that he was sleeping in his car at the park when a man, dressed in park ranger attire and driving a truck with police lights, knocked on his window and threatened him.
“He said he was going to have my car towed, I was going to be arrested, sent downtown, and see a judge the next morning,” Beede said.
The man had a gun in his pocket, which he referenced, and started making demands. First, he recorded videos of Beede admitting to things he hadn’t done. Then he told him to undress, “which was super violating,” Beede said.
Beede claimed that Ellis took his ID, demanded cash, and coerced him into luring gay men to the park through a dating app, presumably to repeat the same actions. Beede said he gave the man $120 and complied until he could escape and call 911.
“I was fearful for my life, so I was doing everything he said,” Beede explained.
Police responded and arrested Ellis, finding a gun on him.
Houston Parks and Recreation declined to comment on the case or Ellis’ employment status.
