Two Galveston-based livestreamers captured footage that led to the arrest of a man accused of impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Their video, recorded on Nov. 9, 2025, shows what witnesses describe as a possible detention near a credit union on 24th Street. On Dec. 22, 2025, Galveston police arrested the 44-year-old man at his home. He faces two counts of impersonating a public servant and is being held in the Galveston County Jail on a $500,000 bond while detectives investigate potential additional victims.
The livestream footage was captured by Robert Harvey, who runs the Harvey Freebird page, and Bruce Rebmann of the Galveston Island Transparency Channel. The two regularly record police activity on the island, Click2Houston reports. Harvey told the station that while livestreaming, he noticed two people being detained and observed that no police car was present. Harvey and Rebmann approached the man, asked for his name and badge number, and then alerted nearby officers, according to the report.
Arrest and evidence
Galveston detectives later identified the man as Joshua Warner, according to a police release cited by KGTX 7. Investigators obtained arrest and search warrants and took him into custody at his home in the 6400 block of Central City Boulevard. Officers say they seized a fraudulent law-enforcement badge and identification card, along with a vehicle resembling an unmarked patrol car, which helped establish probable cause for two counts of impersonating a public servant. Police are asking anyone who believes they were unlawfully detained to contact the department.
Confrontation caught on camera
Video from the scene shows the suspect returning to his car and pulling out what appeared to be a badge. Witnesses say he then struck Rebmann in the face with it before driving away. Harvey told Click2Houston that the man’s uniform and equipment appeared cheap and unfamiliar, and that he refused to provide a badge number when asked. After Warner’s arrest, the livestreamers reported receiving dozens of messages from people describing similar encounters.
Police seek other victims
Galveston police say detectives believe there may be additional victims and have released the suspect’s information, urging anyone who was stopped or detained by someone claiming to be with ICE to come forward, ABC13 reports. Warner remains in custody on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court later this month. The department is accepting tips at 409‑765‑3736 as the investigation continues.
What the charge means
Under Texas law, impersonating a public servant is classified as a third-degree felony, which allows prosecutors to pursue significant criminal charges if evidence supports the case. The Galveston investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors will determine whether to file additional charges as detectives continue to follow leads.
Authorities say the case highlights that not all badges are legitimate. Witnesses and police advise anyone approached by someone claiming to be a federal agent to request official identification, call 911 if they have doubts, and preserve any video or photos. Anyone with information about this investigation or who believes they were unlawfully detained is asked to contact the Galveston Police Department at 409‑765‑3736.
