GALVESTON – Police have arrested an 18-year-old gate attendant accused of pocketing beach entry fees at Stewart Beach after a visitor reported being charged twice for access.

According to a statement released by the Galveston Police Department, the investigation began on the morning of July 29 when officials from the Galveston Park Board alerted authorities to a possible theft. A customer had contacted the Park Board after noticing they were charged twice, prompting an internal review of payment records.

During the review, Park Board staff discovered that the gate attendant, identified as Luke Perez of Galveston, had allegedly processed entry fees using a personal device instead of the authorized system.

Police detectives responded to the scene and began working closely with Park Board leadership to investigate the matter further. Their findings led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Perez, who now faces a charge of theft—a Class C misdemeanor.

“The Galveston Police Department thanks the Galveston Park Board for their prompt reporting and continued cooperation throughout the investigation,” the department stated.

Officials say the investigation remains ongoing, with detectives continuing to review records and coordinate with Park Board staff to ensure a full and transparent accounting of the incident.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Galveston Police Department’s investigators at 409-765-3628.

Credit: Dana Smith, CC