This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A sheriff trying his best to deal with crime in far-left Colorado is warning that state lawmakers forced him to release a suspect in an attempt murder case, and that person now is on the streets again.
"Someone's going to get hurt and someone's going to get hurt bad," explained Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams.
The suspect in question was caught on video allegedly punching one man until he fell backward, hitting his head and laying there unconscious. In a second situation, the suspect allegedly punched a man until he was lying flat on his back on the pavement, then continued to bash the man in the head.
Here is a local news report describing how the sheriff was forced, by leftist state lawmakers in Colorado's Democrat-majority legislature, to release the suspect, Debisa Ephriam.
He's a refugee from Tanzania, and was arrested on charges of criminal attempt to commit second-degree murder, first-degree assault and engaging in a riot, as well as aggravated menacing with a weapon and first-degree burglary in a second case.
A report at Not the Bee explained:
Under Colorado HB24-1034, passed in 2024, those deemed unfit to stand trial get taxpayer-funded psychiatric care that is provided "in a timely manner," but the state cannot hold them indefinitely in such facilities, meaning they end up back on the streets. Sheriff Reams said that Colorado lawmakers have "created a crisis where very dangerous individuals are being released to the street to reoffend over and over."
Unfortunately, that was the point of the "social justice" and BLM movements. It has happened the country over, from Weld County to Charlotte, North Carolina. We were told that systemic racism was unfairly prosecuting non-white Americans, so the scales of justice were tipped to allow preferential treatment for those seen as "marginalized."
The law had been signed by Colorado's homosexual governor, Jared Polis, who has fought President Donald Trump's Make America Great Agenda in a variety of ways.
The report explained, "Colorado's 'social justice' laws allow violent offenders to be released back into the public if they are deemed too stupid and/or crazy to stand trial. No, that is not satire. Not the Bee recently covered the case of a sex offender who was released despite trying to abduct a child."
Social media comments were not polite to the state:
"This is why you need to be armed at all times. Of course the same demons that released this guy are constantly trying to disarm you … hmmm…"
"So he got 5 free months room, board and meals and now he's in your neighborhood. Yay!"
The sheriff's office actually released video evidence in the case, accompanied by a warning about the violence documented:
The sheriff's office said, "Content Warning the videos in this press release may be disturbing to some viewers as they depict acts of violence. Both video clips were edited to redact personal identifiable features and information."
It explained Ephraim was being released "per Colorado statute."
Competency was raised in two of his criminal cases, and the courts found in July of this year his competency could not be restored, and therefore he would "not be able to stand trial."
He had been arrested last April in Greeley on the long list of criminal counts.
"The first video in this post is believed to have occurred in the Fort Collins area a few weeks prior to the second video, which allegedly happened in Greeley. Although the videos in this post could not be authenticated, they were found on social media and given to law enforcement by one of the victim's family members in the Greeley Police Dept's case," the report said.
"The state legislature and the governor have continued to weaken the criminal justice system by handcuffing law enforcement, prosecutors and judges for the sake of criminals. Colorado HB24-1034 has created a crisis where very dangerous individuals are being released to the street to reoffend over and over, this is the latest example. 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. God help this State," Reams said.
