Registered Sex Offender Arrested After Allegedly Attempting To Kidnap Child From School

Aurora Police Department (APD) officials confirmed Friday that a 33-year-old Colorado man has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to kidnap a child at an elementary school.

According to APD, officers received a report of an unknown person approaching children outside Black Forest Hills Elementary School just after 2:20 p.m. Friday. Officials said the unidentified man “at some point attempted to grab the boy” and attempted to leave the school before police arrived.

Shortly afterward, APD officials spotted a man matching the description of the suspect, later identified as registered sex offender Solomon Galligan. The 33-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of attempted kidnapping, authorities confirmed. (Related: Report: 7 criminals kidnap security guard in organized robbery)

Solomon Galligan – Registered sex offender, arrested for attempted kidnapping. [Daily Caller/Aurora Police Department]

According to a police affidavit, surveillance camera footage showed Galligan approaching the children in the field, the children running away from him, and Galligan attempting to grab the children. Galligan appeared to have tripped over the blanket he was holding while trying to grab the child, and the child was able to escape.

Witnesses at the scene reportedly said children were shouting “stranger danger” to warn adults in the schoolyard about Galligan. according to to the Daily Mail.

However, this was not the first crime committed by Galligan. according to To KKTV. In 2012, the 33-year-old was convicted in Jefferson County of failing to register as a sex offender, the newspaper reported.

According to CBS Denver, after the incident, parents received a phone call informing them that recess had ended early and their students had been brought inside the school. The news agency also obtained an email sent to parents at Black Forest Hills Elementary School stating that safety measures and procedures following the incident were being reviewed by officials.

According to KKTV, Galligan is currently being held in the Arapahoe County Jail on $25,000 bail.