AURORA, Colo. — The family of a man who is accused of grabbing an elementary school child is pointing to what they perceive as systemic failures that have repeatedly allowed him back on the streets leading him to pose a threat to himself and society.
Solomon Galligan was formally charged with kidnapping and child abuse on Thursday, April 25, following an incident at Black Forest Hills Elementary School where he allegedly approached children on the playground and attempted to grab one of them.
According to his family, Galligan's troubled journey began when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at the age of 16.
"He was known for acting out, making impulse decisions, running away... not knowing where he was going," recalled Amanda Morris, Galligan's niece.
At the age of 18, he fled for good, leaving his family in a perpetual state of uncertainty regarding his whereabouts—except when he's in custody.
"Every six months that we find him in the jail system, we're happy he's there, because then he's not out on the streets," remarked his older sister, Sarah Galligan.
His family says Galligan has been in and out of jail for 12 years, previous charges including assault, burglary, and sex crimes.
Sarah received notification from her father about the incident involving Galligan. While such notifications had become familiar to her, she expressed disbelief that her brother had escalated matters to this extent.
"It just really sucks he had to do something so eye-catching for everybody to see he's not well, and he's not okay to be out and be on his own," she said.
Sarah described the familiar routine of his past arrests: Galligan would be deemed incompetent to stand trial due to his mental health, but a shortage of beds in mental health facilities meant he couldn't be treated or institutionalized. Consequently, he would eventually be released back into society, only to repeat the cycle.
"This has been like the fourth time that we're sitting here thinking, How the hell did he get released? Who's letting him out?" Morris questioned, highlighting the family's frustration with the system.
Galligan faces the court once again, his family hopes for a resolution to the ongoing saga.
"It's just a process that we want to be done," Sarah expressed, fearing the potential for irreparable harm.
Advocating for increased funding and resources for mental health institutions, the Galligan family emphasizes the importance of keeping individuals like Solomon off the streets for their own well-being and that of the community.
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