Charges Against Registered Sex Offender to Be Dismissed
Prosecutors in Colorado are reportedly planning to drop charges against a registered sex offender connected to an attempted abduction case involving elementary school children last year.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which oversees Arapaho County—including Aurora and Littleton—is expected to conclude the case against 33-year-old Solomon Garrigan this coming Friday.
Garrigan had been charged following an incident in April 2024 where he allegedly attempted to lure an 11-year-old boy during a break at Black Forest Hills Elementary School.
Aurora Police have confirmed that Garrigan is a registered sex offender, with his registration managed through the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
After Garrigan’s arrest, a court-ordered mental competency evaluation determined that he was not fit to stand trial. Consequently, prosecutors have indicated that they need to dismiss the charges, clarifying that this decision does not imply any presumption of guilt or innocence on his part.
The incident was captured on video, showing Garrigan chasing the boy, attempting to make him grab something, while another child managed to escape in fear.
“It’s very scary to see,” remarked Dante White, whose child was there during the incident. “Especially when looking at the assailant’s photos. If that man had approached me, I think I would’ve been shocked. It felt like an attempted grooming.”
In response to the terrifying event, officials from the Aurora primary school sent a detailed ten-page letter to the Cherry Creek School District, requesting an independent review of their initial response to the situation.
According to reports, an internal investigation led to the replacement of former Black Forest Hills Elementary School principal, Amandale Progle.
“The findings from this review made it clear that administrative changes were necessary at Black Forest Hills,” a prior statement from the district indicated. “We are implementing these changes now to ensure we can move forward positively and productively as the school year wraps up.”
“I accept responsibility for that mistake, alongside district leadership. There was confusion at the time. I didn’t have all the details about what had actually happened when we were handling things,” Progle stated in a letter.
