Houston ranger accused of targeting gay men in Cullen Park appears before judge, who grants him $30,000 bond

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A judge on Wednesday issued a $30,000 bond against a Houston park ranger for allegedly targeting gay men to rob them.

On Tuesday, the alleged victim, Joshua Beede, told ABC13 he was sleeping in his car in Cullen Park when Joey Lamar Ellis, 33, knocked on his window, wearing a park ranger uniform.

Beede said Ellis threatened to arrest him if he didn’t give up his money or strip naked, making it known he had a gun in his pocket.

“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.

Ellis also allegedly asked Beede to use a dating app to lure other men to the park so they too could likely be robbed.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Houston ranger accused of targeting gay men in Cullen Park for money

Eventually, Beede said he gave Ellis money and accepted it until he could run away to call 911.

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

ABC13 obtained audio of the dispatcher’s radio call, where you can hear the disbelief in the officer’s voice.

“So he made him take his clothes off? Yes, he made the complainant take his clothes off, and I guess he ran towards the gas station,” police can be heard saying.

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

“But he knew what he was doing. He probably already did it,” Beede said. “He didn’t look nervous doing that.”

Ellis faces a charge of official oppression and is behind bars on $30,000 bail. The judge said Ellis is restricted to Harris and contiguous counties, cannot have access to drugs or firearms and is subject to a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. curfew.

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department confirmed it was notified of the park ranger’s arrest. City records show Ellis has been employed since 2019.

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