HOUSTON — A former Houston urban park ranger was back in court Thursday on allegations he threatened to arrest people if they didn't take off their clothes and give him money.
Joey Lamar Ellis, 33, is charged with official oppression.
Prosecutors say Ellis approached two men inside a car at Cullen Park and told them he knew what they were there for. He wasn't on duty that night but they said Ellis was wearing his ranger uniform and driving a city vehicle.
One of the men told police that Ellis threatened to take him him to jail unless he stripped naked, confessed to a crime he didn't commit and paid him $300.
The man said he didn't have that much money but he gave Ellis $20 in cash and another $200 via CashApp.
Prosecutors said Ellis also told the victim he needed to help lure other men to the park through gay dating apps so he could do the same thing to them.
The man was able to escape and call police.
"I anticipate that there will be a lot of evidence in this case, given the fact that this defendant was receiving cash payments from all these individuals in exchange for essentially threatening to send them to jail for crimes that don't even exist," Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Smith told us.
Smith said more charges could be filed if other victims come forward.
But Ellis’s defense attorney said the allegations against his client aren't true.
"Mr. Ellis is an upstanding citizen, never been in trouble in his life and he strongly contests these charges," Wes Rucker said. "And we think as the evidence unfolds, it'll be seen that this was a mistake to bring these cases.”
Ellis was released after posting a $30,000 bond. He was ordered to stay away from all city parks and to have no contact with his accusers.
