Charges Set to Be Dropped Against Accused Kidnapper Over Mental Competency
Authorities in Colorado are expected to dismiss charges against a registered sex offender accused of attempting to kidnap a child from an elementary school, citing his incompetence to stand trial.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, responsible for Arapahoe County, which includes the cities of Aurora and Littleton, announced on Friday that it intends to drop charges against 33-year-old Solomon Galligan.
Galligan is facing an attempted kidnapping charge stemming from an incident in April 2024, where he allegedly tried to abduct an 11-year-old boy during a recess period at Black Forest Hills Elementary School.
Reports indicate that Galligan is listed as a registered sex offender, with his registration managed by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
Following his arrest, mental health evaluations concluded that Galligan was unfit to proceed with a trial, leading prosecutors to assert they have no viable option but to dismiss the case.
While prosecutors have not disputed the allegations, evidence gathered includes surveillance footage that clearly shows a man pursuing and attempting to seize a student, as other children fled the scene.
“It’s incredibly disturbing to watch,” remarked Dante White, a parent whose child was involved in the incident, in an interview with FOX31. “Seeing the suspect in those pictures is frightening; I’d be terrified if he approached me. This was undeniably an attempted kidnapping.”
In the wake of this incident, concerned parents at the Aurora school drafted a comprehensive 10-page letter addressed to Cherry Creek School District officials, urging an independent assessment of the school’s reaction to the situation.
Subsequent investigations by school district officials resulted in the departure of former principal Amanda Replogle from her role at Black Forest Hills Elementary, as reported by local media.
“The findings from our investigation necessitated an administrative change at Black Forest Hills,” stated a previous communication from the district to FOX31. “This change is being enacted now to ensure a constructive and positive conclusion to the school year.”
Replogle recognized that it was a significant error not to place the school on secure status following the event.
“I, along with district leadership, take full responsibility for that mistake. At the time, there was confusion as we did not possess all the particulars of what had transpired,” she expressed in a letter sent to the district, which was later obtained by FOX31.
The Cherry Creek School District informed FOX31 that measures have been instituted since the attempted kidnapping, which include enhanced security protocols, an increased security presence, and a focus on supporting student mental health by providing options for indoor recess as a safer alternative.
Fox News Digital attempted to contact both the Cherry Creek School District and the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office for their input but did not receive an immediate response.
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