A Connecticut school resource officer committed suicide shortly after he was arrested by his own department for allegedly luring a minor.
Ryan Moan, 33, of Coventry, was arrested on Friday and charged with risk of injury/impairing the morals of a child, enticing a minor by computer, misrepresentation of age to entice a minor, and tampering with physical evidence, according to the Manchester Police Department.
Around 1:45pm – just hours after he was released on a $50,000 bond – police in nearby Vernon responded to a welfare check at a boat launch on Hatch Hill Road where they found Moan deceased inside his car with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Moan, a sergeant who was with the force since February 2017, was recently assigned as the school resource officer supervisor for Manchester Public Schools, according to police.
His arrest warrant was immediately sealed by the court so the details of the allegations remain unclear.
Police said that the victim, whose age and name remain unknown, is not a resident or student of Manchester, adding that his charges ‘are not related to him acting in his capacity as a police officer.’
Moan, a husband and father-of-two, was placed on unpaid leave on November 18 after investigators first got word of the allegations against him.
His cause of death has not yet been determined by the medical examiner, as Lt. Robert Marra with the Vernon Police Department said: ‘There is no threat to the public and the incident remains under investigation.’
Ryan Moan, 33, of Coventry, Connecticut was arrested on Friday morning for allegedly luring a minor
Around 1.45pm Friday he was found dead inside his car with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Picture: Moan with his wife)
Following his arrest, officials who knew Moan said they were ‘shocked, outraged and disturbed by these alleged actions.’
‘Comments will be limited given the ongoing investigation, but the town is committed to full transparency,’ Chief of Police William Darby and town manager Steve Stephanou said in a joint statement.
‘The alleged actions are in complete contrast to MPD’s values of integrity, compassion and fairness and do not reflect the professionalism and dedication of the officers who make up the department.’
Matt Geary, the superintendent of Manchester Public Schools said the entire district is ‘deeply troubled’ by the allegations.
‘Sgt. Moan’s alleged actions are in contrast to the value, safety, trust, and integrity that we uphold in Manchester Public Schools.
‘As a parent, I understand the impact this news may have on parents and guardians who place our trust in those who serve our students,’ Geary said, adding, ‘If your child needs support, please do not hesitate to reach out.’
Moan was expected in court on January 3 for his arraignment, according to the police department.
Vernon Police officers responded to a welfare check at a boat launch on Hatch Hill Road, where Moan’s body was found
Despite Moan’s sudden death, parents in the district are still worried about the allegations and who might have been affected.
‘We put so much trust in the school system with the teachers that the only thing you have control over is having talks with your children,’ a local parent told WFSB.
‘Especially when they are here to serve and protect and be 100 percent behind us… to see something like that happen is sad.’
Meanwhile, another parent told Fox 61 ‘that’s not something you hear everyday’ of the allegations made against the late resource officer.
‘Manchester is pretty good. The school system here is really well, I think the programs they got are fantastic,’ he added.
DailyMail.com contacted the Manchester Police Department and Manchester Public School District.
