A man accused of attacking a Colorado reporter after questioning his citizenship and proclaiming, “This is Trump’s America now,” reportedly has a history of mental health issues spanning two decades, as disclosed by his attorney.
Patrick Egan, aged 39, faces charges of assault, committing a bias-motivated crime, and harassment in relation to an incident involving KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex on December 18 outside a television station in Grand Junction, located approximately 240 miles west of Denver. According to court documents, Alex informed law enforcement that he suspected Egan, a taxi driver at the time, had followed him and subsequently assaulted him on the basis of his Pacific Islander heritage.
During a recent court appearance, Ruth Swift, Egan’s legal representative, informed the presiding judge that her client has been contending with persistent mental health challenges for the past twenty years and is presently undergoing treatment, as reported by KREX-TV. Despite attempts to reach Swift for comment, she did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
Swift articulated that Egan has access to mental health therapy and emergency crisis services, as well as a support system of friends who would assist him and maintain contact if he were to be released from custody. Egan’s ally, Ben Wilson, who attended the court hearing, expressed disbelief regarding the allegations leveled against Egan, portraying him as a close figure akin to family. “I have five kids and he’s like family,” Wilson testified. “When I got the news of what happened, (I thought) ‘That’s not Patrick.’”
In light of the circumstances, Judge JenniLynn Lawrence denied Swift’s plea to reduce Egan’s cash bond set at $20,000, citing concerns over Egan’s potential threat to community safety. Noting Egan’s termination from his driving position, Judge Lawrence raised apprehensions regarding his future compliance with court proceedings.
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