Greeley, CO – A 21-year-old inmate is being released from Weld County Jail today despite repeated violent criminal allegations, prompting a public safety warning from local law enforcement.
According to the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, Debisa Ephraim was arrested on April 5 by Greeley police and charged with multiple felonies, including criminal attempt to commit second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and engaging in a riot. Court documents show his competency to stand trial was reviewed in July, and it was determined he could not be restored, leading to his release under Colorado law.
The sheriff’s office said Ephraim was later charged in an unrelated April 23 case while still in custody. In that incident, Greeley police accused him of felony menacing, burglary, and weapons-related offenses. Investigators said video evidence connected to the cases was circulated on social media, though officials noted the clips could not be independently authenticated.
Sheriff Steve Reams criticized state law, citing House Bill 24-1034, which restricts how prosecutors and judges can handle competency-related detentions. He warned the public to remain alert, stating the law has created “a crisis where very dangerous individuals are being released to the street to reoffend over and over.”
The sheriff’s office released the warning alongside video clips, edited to remove identifiable features, showing alleged violent acts tied to the cases. Law enforcement urged community members to take precautions while emphasizing that Ephraim would not face trial due to the competency ruling.
Officials said the release underscores the tension between mental health competency statutes and public safety concerns in Colorado’s justice system.
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