HOUSTON – The FBI Houston Field Office has launched a federal civil rights investigation to find more victims in the case of a Houston park ranger accused of targeting members of the LGBTQ community. Investigators say he was demanding money or sexual favors in exchange for not being arrested at Cullen Park.
Joey Lamar Ellis, 33, has been charged with two counts of official oppression and sexual assault. According to court documents, Ellis is a Houston urban park ranger and used his title and position to harass victims.
FBI officials said in 2019 Ellis was hired as a City of Houston park ranger. Prior to Cullen Park, he also worked at Memorial Park and Cleveland Park.
The FBI is asking anyone who may have been a victim, witnessed potential crimes or has more information on the alleged crimes, to come forward.
Victims and witnesses can report the crimes at fbi.gov/ellisvictims.
How the investigation started
The case was first reported in June after two men came forward with allegations of official oppression against a Houston park ranger who reportedly targeted men at Cullen Park for money.
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A second man came forward with the same allegations, saying Ellis demanded he either give him sex or cash to avoid being arrested at Cullen Park.
The second victim’s story begins in early April when he said he was getting ready to leave the park after a workout when Ellis approached him with demands.
He said Ellis made him pull his pants down, demanded his license, and threatened to take him to jail unless he did one of two things.
“He told me you can suck this—you know what—or you can pay me,” the second victim said.
He said he reluctantly paid Ellis some $260. Out of fear, the man said he didn’t report the incident. When he returned to the park a few weeks later, he says he ran into Ellis again.
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“He was like ‘you already know the routine. I told you not to be out here, you know one or two things.’ Basically, what I told you the first time,” he said.
But this time, the man says he was able to get away, but Ellis didn’t back down.
“So, I jumped the curb and I drove off, and as I attempted to drive off, he was following my car, like on the highways speeding then he tried to side-swipe me and everything to get me to pull over,” he said.
The man says he eventually lost Ellis. He said he found the strength to file a report with Houston Police Department after hearing that another man came forward with a similar story earlier this month, leading to Ellis being charged in that case with felony official oppression.
“I just left it alone, but then somebody else spoke up, so I just hope that others will speak up,” he said.
Houston police are hoping for the same asking any other potential victims to come forward.