Police arrest Galveston man accused of impersonating federal agent

A man from Galveston has been arrested and charged with impersonating a public servant after allegedly posing as a federal immigration officer and detaining two individuals in a downtown parking lot, as reported by police and court records.

On December 22, authorities apprehended 44-year-old Joshua Warner at his residence, where he was charged with two counts of impersonating a public servant, as documented in Galveston County court records. The incident originated from an encounter just after midnight on November 9, during which Warner is accused of detaining two Hispanic men in a white pickup truck parked in a parking lot in downtown Galveston.

According to police reports, the Galveston County Daily News has revealed that Warner impersonated an officer from the United States. Warner pretended to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during the incident.

Local activists Bruce Rebmann and Robert Harvey, identifying as community watchdogs, interrupted and recorded the incident. A video uploaded on November 9 to Harvey’s YouTube channel features a man resembling Warner directing a flashlight into the faces of those inside the truck. As Harvey persistently inquires about the man's name and badge number, the man momentarily displays what seems to be a badge, yet fails to provide sufficient time for its authenticity to be confirmed.

In the video, Harvey highlights that the individual lacks an identifying nameplate and appears to be operating an unmarked vehicle, not one typically associated with law enforcement. A dark-colored sedan, driven by a woman, later departs the scene with the man inside. “Something was unsettling about this guy,” Harvey states in the recording.

The video subsequently captures Harvey and Rebmann in conversation with Galveston police officers who are attending to an unrelated incident in the vicinity. Galveston police did not disclose to the Daily News if the activists' video played a role in securing an arrest warrant.

Officers have reportedly confiscated what has been characterized as a counterfeit law enforcement identification card and badge, as well as Warner’s vehicle, which officials indicated bore a resemblance to an unmarked police unit.

In the wake of the arrest, a supporter of Rebmann took to online comments to commend his steadfast loyalty. “Fortunately, law enforcement has little tolerance for those attempting to imitate their role,” the commenter expressed. “It required just a handful of calls.”

Court documents indicate that Warner is currently detained, with a total bond of $500,000. The upcoming court hearing is set for January 26.

Authorities in Galveston are urging anyone who may have had contact with Warner to contact investigators. According to police spokesman Kurt Koopmann, detectives are actively collecting information pertinent to the ongoing investigation, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.