Grand Junction police took Patrick Egan back into custody over the weekend, just days after a judge declared him competent to stand trial for the brutal attack on KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex last summer. The new arrest stems from an alleged violation of the mandatory protection order that bars Egan from any contact with the victim.
The latest arrest happened Saturday, February 22, 2025. Officers booked the 37-year-old into the Mesa County Detention Facility on suspicion of violating the court-ordered protection that was put in place immediately after the August 2024 assault.
This marks the second time Egan has been jailed since the incident that shocked western Colorado and sparked national conversations about journalist safety.
What Led to the New Arrest
Court records show Egan appeared in Mesa County Court on Wednesday, February 19, for a routine status hearing in the original felony case. Three days later, Grand Junction police received information that he had violated the protection order issued to shield Alex and his family.
Detectives moved quickly. By Saturday evening, Egan was in handcuffs again.
He remains held on a $10,000 cash/surety bond for the new misdemeanor charge, on top of the $25,000 bond from the original felony case.
Timeline of the Case So Far
- August 14, 2024: Ja’Ronn Alex is punched in the face while reporting live from a Grand Junction neighborhood
- August 15, 2024: Patrick Egan arrested and charged with second-degree assault on a journalist (felony), criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct
- August 16, 2024: Mandatory protection order issued barring Egan from contacting Alex
- February 17, 2025: Judge rules Egan competent to stand trial after months of evaluations
- February 19, 2025: Egan appears in court for status hearing
- February 22, 2025: Egan arrested again for allegedly violating the protection order
The competency ruling earlier this month ended a five-month delay in the case. Doctors at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo had been evaluating whether Egan could understand the proceedings and assist in his defense.
Judge Valerie Robison found him competent on February 17, clearing the path for the case to move forward toward trial.
The Attack That Started It All
On a warm August evening, Ja’Ronn Alex was doing what local reporters do every day: knocking on doors, asking questions, trying to get answers for viewers.
He approached Egan’s home while investigating a string of vehicle trespass reports in the area.
What happened next was caught on camera and replayed across the country.
Egan allegedly walked up to Alex, made a brief statement, then delivered a single, hard punch to the reporter’s face before calmly walking away.
Alex was left stunned but managed to stay on his feet and continue the live shot until the station cut away.
The attack highlighted a growing danger for journalists working in the field. The National Press Photographers Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists both cited the Grand Junction incident in their 2024 reports on rising threats against media workers.
What’s Next in Court
No new trial date has been set in the felony assault case, but prosecutors say it will happen before the June 12, 2026 deadline set by Colorado’s speedy trial rules.
Egan’s defense team has indicated they may still pursue an insanity plea, though the competency ruling makes that path more difficult.
The new protection order violation charge will be handled separately but could impact sentencing if Egan is convicted in the original case.
Mesa County District Attorney investigators continue to build their case. They tell us additional evidence, including witness statements from neighbors who saw the assault, will be presented at trial.
A Community Still Healing
Seven months later, people in Grand Junction still talk about that night.
Many residents say they feel less safe knowing someone can face serious charges, be ruled competent, and then allegedly violate the very order meant to protect the victim just days later.
For local journalists, the incident changed everything.
KKCO/KJCT now requires two-person crews for certain stories. Some reporters say they think twice before knocking on doors alone.
Ja’Ronn Alex returned to work weeks after the attack and has continued covering the Western Slope with the same energy that made him a trusted voice in living rooms across the region.
He has chosen not to comment publicly on the latest arrest, but station management released a brief statement saying they are aware of the development and continue to support their employee fully.
The repeated arrests of Patrick Egan serve as a stark reminder that one violent moment can create ripples that last for years. For Ja’Ronn Alex, for his colleagues, and for a community that depends on local journalists to tell their stories, the case is far from over.
What do you think about journalist safety in 2025? Has this case changed how you view local reporting? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
