Man says Houston Park Ranger put bracelet on him and hatched plan to target gay men on dating app

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston city ranger has been arrested and charged with official oppression following a man’s ordeal in Cullen Park.

Joey Lamar Ellis, 33, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department confirms it was informed of the park ranger’s arrest. City records show Ellis has been employed since 2019.

According to Houston Police, officers were called to Cullen Park on Saums Road around 3 a.m. for a theft. There, they met Joshua Beede, who spoke to ABC13 Tuesday evening.

“What he (Ellis) did was wrong,” Beede said.

Beede said he was sleeping in his car in the park when a man driving a truck with police lights and wearing park ranger gear 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 referred to, Beede said, and he began making demands. First, he made video recordings of Beede admitting to things he hadn’t done, then he told him to take off his clothes, “which was extremely violent,” Beede said.

According to Beede, Ellis took his ID, demanded cash and help to lure gay men to the park through a dating app, presumably to do the same thing. He said he gave the man $120 and he accepted it until he could run away to call 911.

“I was afraid for my life, so I did everything he said,” Beede said.

Police responded and arrested Ellis, adding they found a weapon on him.

Houston Parks and Rec declined to comment on the case or Ellis’ status within the department.

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