Strother, OK – Ryan Lehmen, Fire Chief of the Strother Volunteer Fire Department, was arrested during a prostitution sting conducted by the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation was part of a broader human trafficking task force initiative where undercover officers posed as sex workers on various online platforms. According to court documents, Lehmen contacted one of the officers and agreed to pay $80 for oral sex. The meeting was set at a Shawnee hotel room, where Lehmen was confronted and taken into custody.
During questioning, Lehmen admitted he was having marital issues and confessed to making a poor decision. He said he found the escort listing via a Google search and claimed this was his first time engaging in such conduct.
Following his arrest, the Strother Fire Department announced an emergency meeting. The oversight board voted to suspend Lehmen pending the outcome of the case. Lehmen had only been serving as fire chief since April.
The investigation remains ongoing.
