A 33-year-old registered sex offender tried to kidnap a Black Forest Hills Elementary School student during recess Friday, according to an Aurora Police Department arrest affidavit.
Solomon Galligan was arrested Friday evening, just over three hours after he allegedly walked onto school grounds holding 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 security video of a man, later identified as Galligan, walking up to children on the field holding a white blanket, then lunging toward and trying to grab one child as the students started running away.
The child told police they did not know the Galligan and that he had white powder on his face and smelled like alcohol. It also sounded like Galligan told the children to “stop running,” according to the affidavit.
Galligan appeared to leave the school after realizing students were screaming “Stranger danger” and running away, according to the affidavit.
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 was taken to a local hospital, and he was later arrested and booked into the Aurora Detention Center.
Cherry Creek School District officials notified families by phone and email on Friday about the incident and by email Sunday about Galligan’s arrest, according to the district.
District officials launched an investigation into the incident and will provide increased supervision during recess this week to make sure students feel safe, Cherry Creek officials said in a statement.
Galligan is in custody at the Aurora jail on a $25,000 bail and is set to appear in court Thursday, according to court records
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