Registered sex offender to walk free after elementary school kidnapping attempt, prosecutors say

Prosecutors in Colorado have made the decision to drop charges against Solomon Galligan, a registered sex offender accused of attempting to kidnap a child from an elementary school. The 33-year-old was found incompetent to stand trial after undergoing a mental competency evaluation. As a result, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office plans to dismiss the charges against him.

Galligan faced one count of attempted kidnapping for allegedly trying to take an 11-year-old boy from Black Forest Hills Elementary School in April 2024. The incident was captured on video, showing a man chasing after and grabbing at the student while other children ran away. Parents and witnesses described the incident as terrifying and an attempted kidnapping.

Despite Galligan’s guilt being evident in the video evidence, the decision to drop the charges was made based on his mental competency evaluation. Aurora police had previously reported that Galligan is a registered sex offender with ties to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

Following the incident, parents at the Aurora school raised concerns about the school’s handling of the situation. They submitted a letter to Cherry Creek School District officials, demanding an independent review. As a result, former Black Forest Hills Elementary School Principal Amanda Replogle was replaced.

Replogle admitted that there was a mistake in not placing the school on secure status after the incident. The school district has since implemented reforms, including security protocol enhancements, increased security presence, and prioritizing student mental health support by offering options for indoor recess.

The decision to drop charges against Galligan has brought attention to the need for improved safety measures in schools and the importance of mental health evaluations for individuals involved in criminal cases. The Cherry Creek School District and Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office have not yet provided a comment on the matter.