A Colorado Democrat prosecutor is facing a recall effort after announcing plans to dismiss charges against a transgender individual accused of attempting to lure a young boy from a school playground, according to a local source.
The District Attorney’s Office for the state’s 18th Judicial District stated they would be dropping charges against 33-year-old Solomon Garrigan, who was allegedly trying to abduct an 11-year-old during recess at Black Forest Hills Elementary School in Aurora back in April 2024.
After his arrest, Garrigan was evaluated and deemed “mentally incompetent,” as reported by the DA’s office.
Prosecutors indicated that they are required to drop charges if the accused is found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Aurora City Councilman Daniel Julinski expressed his disagreement with this decision, indicating his intent to begin a recall process against DA Amy Padden, and was confident of success.
“The actions taken by the 18th DA over recent months have been deeply troubling. This decision is just the latest example,” said Julinski, a Republican.
“These progressive policies are simply unacceptable,” he added, emphasizing the need for tougher law enforcement. “While broader issues within Colorado’s laws may exist, Padden has not upheld her duties in holding criminals accountable.”
Interestingly, Sarah Garrigan, Solomon’s sister, mentioned in an interview that the community is not safe with him on the streets, suggesting a history of mental health struggles and past failures to institutionalize him due to lack of resources.
She mentioned, “It seems he has always attracted attention for his behavior.” Meanwhile, Amanda Morris, Solomon’s niece, questioned, “How could he be released? Who allowed this to happen?”
Since 2011, Garrigan has publicly identified as a woman and had previously been registered as a sex offender after an incident involving non-consensual sexual contact.
In a social media post from that time, Garrigan shared excitedly about starting hormone therapy, detailing personal struggles and emotional challenges.
During the recent incident, surveillance footage showed Garrigan approaching a child at the park before chaos ensued.
Reports indicate that Garrigan attempted to grab one of the children but lost his grip as he stumbled over a white blanket.
The child later recounted that Garrigan had white powder on his face and had made a strange noise.
After fleeing the scene, Garrigan was later located by police in a nearby store.
The DA’s office responded by stating that ongoing legal obligations restrict them from discussing specific details about Garrigan’s mental health, reaffirming that the charges must be dismissed if he is found incompetent.
“We are legally bound to follow these procedures. The findings regarding the defendant’s mental capacity must remain confidential,” they added.
