'Created a Crisis': Colorado Dems Seeking Swing District Cosponsored Bill That Freed 'Very Dangerous Person' Accused of Attempted Murder
The law Manny Rutinel and Shannon Bird backed 'created a crisis where very dangerous individuals are being released to the street to reoffend over and over,' sheriff says
Manny Rutinel (via Wikimedia Commons), Shannon Bird (shannonbird.com), Debisa Ephraim (Weld County District Attorney's Office)
Ethan Barton
June 11, 2026
Two Democrats vying to flip Colorado's only swing district, Manny Rutinel and Shannon Bird, cosponsored legislation that local law enforcement officials say forced them to drop charges against "a very dangerous person" accused of attempted murder, setting him free into the community.
Debisa Ephraim, also known as Ephraim Debisa, was arrested on charges including attempted second-degree murder and assault in April 2025, after videos surfaced showing him knocking out men on two separate occasions. One victim bashed his head on a brick wall on the way down, while the other's head hit the street. Ephraim pounced over both victims and continued beating their faces while they were out cold.
One victim suffered severe brain injuries and "never fully recovered," Weld County sheriff Steve Reams told the Washington Free Beacon. He described Ephraim as "a very dangerous person" and called the attacks "unprovoked."
https://freebeacon.com/democrats/created-a-crisis-colorado-dems-seeking-swing-district-cosponsored-bill-that-freed-very-dangerous-person-accused-of-attempted-murder/
