❓WHAT HAPPENED: A repeat offender, Ephraim Debisa, was arrested on a college campus in Colorado for unlawful possession of a weapon and trespassing, following previous arrests for violent crimes.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ephraim Debisa, Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams, and Governor Jared Polis (D-CO).
📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrest occurred last week in Weld County, Colorado.
💬KEY QUOTE: “This is just devastating to public safety in Colorado, and it’s devastating to law enforcement morale.” – Rep. Evans
🎯IMPACT: The situation highlights concerns over Colorado’s criminal justice policies and their impact on law enforcement morale and public safety.
Ephraim Debisa, a 21-year-old refugee from Tanzania, was arrested last week in Weld County, Colorado, for unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds and trespassing. According to the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, Debisa had previously been arrested on suspicion of attempting to commit second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and engaging in a riot. He also faced earlier charges of felony menacing and first-degree burglary. However, the Democrat-governed state’s recently enacted competency law has prevented Debisa from standing trial or being held by law enforcement.
Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams criticized Colorado’s Democratic leadership for policies that he says have weakened the criminal justice system. “They have continued to weaken the criminal justice system by handcuffing law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges for the sake of criminals,” said Reams. “I pray this individual doesn’t hurt another innocent victim but the public deserves to know of his past violent actions so they can protect themselves accordingly.”
Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO) also expressed frustration over the situation, saying, “This is just devastating to public safety in Colorado, and it’s devastating to law enforcement morale.” Evans, a former police officer, noted the emotional toll such cases take on law enforcement, adding, “You go, and you arrest a repeat violent offender who then gets released, and then you got to go catch him again two weeks later when he’s armed with a gun.”
Evans pointed to broader issues, including anti-law enforcement sentiment and policies he described as “soft on crime.” He said, “For the last five years plus, we have seen the left double down on their anti-law enforcement rhetoric, going back to the riots of 2020. They are at an ideological point where they struggle to be able to actually back law enforcement and condemn political violence when it’s against conservative figures.”
Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) defended his administration’s actions, claiming he is “getting real results” on crime. However, he had to acknowledge that the new competency law has had “unintended consequences” and expressed willingness to work with law enforcement and legislators to address the issue.
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