Police: Man raped special needs teen inside Philadelphia rec center

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Philadelphia police say they have arrested and charged a man with raping a special needs teenager inside a South Philadelphia recreation center on Wednesday.

32-year-old Ronald Coleman has been charged with rape, sexual assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and related offenses. Coleman, a Kensington resident, was arrested on Thursday.

Police say Coleman sexually assaulted an 18-year-old male with special needs inside the rec center at the DiSilvestro Playground.

Coleman is a city employee working as a seasonal maintenance worker. Parents and people who use the playground at 15th and Morris were outraged by the alleged assault.

A rec department spokeswoman said all employees must pass a background check that includes criminal, FBI and child abuse inquiries. They would not comment on reports Coleman had been working here for just three weeks.

Officials say a background check was done on Coleman. There are more than a dozen surveillance cameras on the property.