Ex-cop turned EMT convicted in Highland Co human trafficking case.

HIGHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — A local EMT and former police officer accused of forced prostitution has been found guilty.

According to investigators, in October of last year, law enforcement arrested a suspected predator in Greenfield.

A 17-year-old boy allegedly received sexual messages from a man named Ryan Coleman on Snapchat, who then informed his school resource officer. Coleman is an active EMT, firefighter and former police officer.

Highland County law enforcement began their investigation after the 17-year-old and his parents spoke with law enforcement about the messages. Detectives say Coleman allegedly requested sexual acts from the teen in exchange for marijuana.

“I recovered cell phone photographs of the Snapchat conversation…I reviewed the contents of the conversation in which Ryan Coleman offered to perform oral sex on a minor (name redacted). Coleman further offered to provide marijuana at the time the juvenile met Coleman,” the detective said in his report.

Police launched a sting operation to catch Coleman in the act. The juvenile's father was tasked with responding to Coleman and arranging a meeting. Coleman allegedly sent the minor a video “depicting marijuana, vaping, and edibles.”

Shortly afterward, detectives began conducting surveillance on Coleman's home located at 237 McClain Avenue. Coleman allegedly agreed to meet the juvenile at Mitchell Park in Greenfield. Detectives say they saw Coleman leave his residence driving his white 2022 Dodge Challenger. Officers followed him to South 7th Street, just north of Mitchell Park. That's when patrol units conducted a traffic stop and arrested Coleman.

Officers from the Highland County Task Force and officers from the Greenfield Police Department served a search warrant at his residence. Authorities said in their report that an “abundance of drug paraphernalia” as well as a “surplus of marijuana-infused edibles” were discovered. Additional marijuana was found at the residence as well as hidden cameras in his bedroom and various medications.

Coleman was later charged with forced prostitution.

Records show this is not Coleman's first run-in with the law. In 2022, Coleman's residence was searched by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Details of their investigation have not yet been released.

No sentencing date has yet been set for Coleman.