A man accused of assaulting a Colorado reporter after questioning his citizenship and proclaiming, “This is Trump’s America now,” has a history of mental health challenges spanning two decades, as stated by his attorney.
Patrick Egan, 39, faces charges of assault, perpetrating a bias-motivated crime, and harassment for an incident involving KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex on December 18 outside a Grand Junction television station, located approximately 240 miles west of Denver. According to court records, Alex reported to law enforcement that he suspected Egan, a taxi driver at the time, of tailing him and subsequently attacking him due to his Pacific Islander heritage.
During a court proceeding on Thursday, Egan’s lawyer, Ruth Swift, disclosed that her client has grappled with enduring mental health issues for about twenty years and is presently undergoing treatment, as per KREX-TV. Swift did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on Friday.
Swift informed the court that Egan has access to mental health therapy and immediate crisis services, along with a support network of friends who would assist and reach out to him if he were to be released from custody. A supporter of Egan present in court, Ben Wilson, expressed astonishment at the allegations against Egan, describing him as akin to family. Wilson, a father of five, shared, “When I got the news of what happened, (I thought) ‘That’s not Patrick.’”
Despite the defense’s plea to reduce Egan’s bail from $20,000 cash, Judge JenniLynn Lawrence declined the request. She cited Egan’s stature as a considerable threat to community safety, particularly emphasizing concerns regarding his willingness and capacity to attend future court proceedings given his job loss as a driver.
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