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Sex offender arrested after trying to kidnap child during recess, Aurora police say
A 33-year-old registered sex offender tried to kidnap a Black Forest Hills Elementary School student during recess Friday, according to an arrest affidavit from Aurora police.
Solomon Galligan was arrested Friday evening, just over three hours after he allegedly walked onto school grounds carrying a white blanket and tried to kidnap a child.
Aurora police responded to a suspicious incident at the school — located at 25233 E. Glasgow Drive — at 2:22 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest affidavit.
School staff showed police video of a man, later identified as Galligan, walking toward children on the field with a white blanket in his hand, then rushing up to a child and trying to grab him as the students ran away.
The child told police they did not know Galligan, that he had white powder on his face and smelled of alcohol. It also sounded like Galligan was telling the children to “stop running,” the affidavit said.
Galligan appeared to leave the school after realizing the students were yelling “Stranger Danger” and running away, the affidavit said.
Galligan was later found at a nearby Walgreens after a parent recognized him based on his description. Galligan initially told police he was assaulted and taken to a local hospital, and he was later arrested and booked into the Aurora Detention Center.
Cherry Creek School District officials notified families of the incident by phone and email on Friday and of Galligan’s arrest by email on Sunday, the district said.
District officials have launched an investigation into the incident and will provide increased supervision during recess this week to ensure students feel safe, Cherry Creek officials said in a statement.
Galligan is in custody at the Aurora Jail on $25,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, according to court records
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