Sex Offender Seen Photographing Kids

Police are warning parents that a registered sex offender living near downtown Spokane has been seen taking photographs of children.

Detectives say 29-year-old Todd Coats, who is not wanted by authorities at this time, has been seen taking pictures near hotel swimming pools.

Police say that activity isn’t criminal, but it raises concerns because of Coats’ predatory history.

Coats has been convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl, and has other convictions for lewd conduct, theft and probation violations.

He is reportedly living out of two vehicles - a white 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit with Washington license plate 503CDQ and a blue-and-silver 1986 Chevrolet pickup truck, with Washington plate 66792H.

Coats is 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 140 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo