LAPD Officer Charged With Indecent Exposure, Lewd Conduct
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles police officer faces several charges of indecent exposure and lewd conduct after allegedly exposing himself to women on a walkway along the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach, and authorities believe there may be more victims.
Ryan Eric Galliher, 33, of Huntington Beach, was charged with one felony count of attempted lewd act upon a child under 14, a felony count of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act, five felony counts of indecent exposure and a misdemeanor count of engaging in lewd conduct, officials from the Orange County District Attorney's Office said.
At the time of the crimes, Galliher was a sworn LAPD officer, assigned to the department's Southwest Division.
Authorities say Galliher exposed himself to at least five female pedestrians in the Bolsa Chica wetlands area as far back as February. Because of these reports, Huntington Beach police officer set up surveillance in the area.
Early Oct. 23, before there was anyone else in the area, detectives saw Galliher walk out into the area, pull down his shorts and begin masturbating in public, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors say Galliher's victims ranged from a 12-year-old girl to an 80-year-old woman. Galliher typically exposed himself to women as they walked or jogged by, but in one instance, asked the 12-year-old girl if she wanted to touch his penis, prosecutors said.
If convicted, Galliher faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.
Galliher, who has been on administrative leave, is free on $100,000 bail and scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 5.
Anyone with more information or who believes they have been a victim can contact the Huntington Beach Police Department tip line at (714) 375-5066 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mark Gutierrez at (714) 347-8864.
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