PHILADELPHIA, Miss.–You can run, but you can’t hide. It’s an old saying, but it was definitely true for Caleb Coleman, 20, of Philadelphia after police say he tried to meet up with a 16-year-old girl in Cookeville, Tenn., and was met at the door by her dad.
Atty. Gen. Jim Hood said Coleman had been talking to the girl on Skype, inappropriately, and drove to Tennessee to hook up. He never got to meet her. When her dad met him instead, Coleman took off and drove back to Philadelphia.
The dad called Cookeville Police, who immediately contacted Mississippi authorities.
Hood said his Cyber Crime Unit, along with Philadelphia Police arrested Coleman Tuesday morning. He’s charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.
“Our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works with local, state and federal agencies on these types of cases all the time,” said Hood. “There is no refuge in this state for anyone preying on children.”
“The Philadelphia Police Department stands vigilant in protecting kids online,” said Chief Grant Myers. “Parents should always get involved in their kids online life, more now than ever, and make sure they are not chatting with an internet predator.”
Coleman is still in the Neshoba County lockup, awaiting an extradition hearing to go back to Tennessee.
