WRIGHT COUNTY, Iowa — A former Iowa police officer has been arrested for allegedly sending explicit images to a person under the age of 18.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety says 27-year-old Colt Richardson was an officer with the Eagle Grove Police Department when the photos were sent. A criminal complaint filed in the case claims Richardson sent the explicit photos, depicting genitalia, first on December 6, 2024, while he was on duty. Other images were sent while off duty. The photos were transmitted via Snapchat.

DPS says the Eagle Grove Police Department reached out to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation on December 23, 2024, to investigate after receiving a complaint against Richardson.

Richardson was arrested on January 13th on a charge of dissemination of obscene material to a minor, a serious misdemeanor. He has since been fired from the EGPD.

Richardson is free on his own recognizance and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 30th.