Elon Musk called out Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) after a violent offender was released under a state law Polis himself signed—one the governor appeared unaware of when he tried to blame prosecutors for the release.
The controversy centers on 21-year-old Debisa Ephraim, a Tanzanian refugee who has repeatedly drawn the attention of law enforcement for unprovoked attacks.
Sheriff Steve Reams of Weld County warned residents last week after being required to set Ephraim free, despite violent charges including attempted second-degree murder and assault.
Video footage released by the sheriff showed Ephraim knocking men unconscious and continuing to beat them, even as bystanders screamed for him to stop.
Ephraim had been in jail since April, but evaluators ultimately ruled him incompetent to stand trial.
Under House Bill 24-1034, signed into law in 2024 by Polis, defendants deemed unrestorable within a reasonable timeframe cannot remain behind bars unless they qualify for specific mental health programs, according to CBS Colorado.
In this case, no such program was available, which left Reams with no choice but to release him.
“With that ruling, we are forced to release that individual,” the sheriff explained.
Reams stressed that the law has created a dangerous loophole, citing