Purdue Northwest Officer Arrested For Child Solicitation
An investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Unit put a 32-year-old child solicitation suspect behind bars this afternoon, according to Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. He now faces a felony charge for soliciting a minor between 14 and 16 years of age and faces five felony charges for possessing child pornography.
The suspect is identified as Colin Dwyer-Keon, of Hammond. He’s accused of enticing a teenager to expose himself and perform sexually explicit acts between June and July of 2024.
From June of 2025 to October 16, 2025, Dwyer-Keon is accused of having or accessing pornographic images of children younger than 18 years old, and material including one child younger than 12 years old, Martinez said.
Earlier this month, a Lake County Sheriff’s Department SVU detective spoke with a teen who said Dwyer-Keon had hired him last year to work for his bounce house and party rental company. The teen told the detective that within a few weeks, Dwyer-Keon began grooming him; offering him cash for work but then eventually enticed him to play a game he called “Truth or Dare” – which often ended with the suspect daring the victim to undress and expose himself. In one instance, the victim alleges the suspect recorded video of him urinating.
The victim alleges the incidents occurred at multiple locations including the suspect’s home, at a hotel while the two were working at a fair in another Indiana town, and at a local storage facility.
The Lake County Sheriff’s SVU detective obtained a search warrant and retrieved the suspect’s cell phone which contained well over a dozen sexually explicit images including children.
Until recently, Dwyer-Keon had worked in law enforcement. He was employed part time at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond and also worked for the Schneider Police Department where he was recently terminated.
Dwyer-Keon surrendered himself at the Lake County Jail today. There is no bond. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
Dwyer-Keon has been charged with the following:
CHILD SOLICITATION – Level 5 Felony
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY -Level 5 Felony
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – Level 6 Felony
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – Level 6 Felony
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – Level 6 Felony
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – Level 6 Felony
“The crimes described in this case are simply appalling. Those who take an oath to serve and protect should never exploit or victimize anyone – especially children. I commend our investigators for their professionalism, skill and persistence in bringing these charges forward.”
This investigation is ongoing and there could be more victims. Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by this suspect should contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Unit at 219-755-3355.
