A Jan. 12 arraignment date is scheduled for a Los Angeles police officer accused of exposing himself to five victims, including a 12-year-old girl, in Huntington Beach, a prosecutor said Wednesday in announcing the charges.
Ryan Eric Galliher, 33, of Huntington Beach, was arrested Tuesday night, according to Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez.
Galliher is charged with an attempted lewd act on a child younger than 14 and luring of a child with intent to commit a lewd act, both felonies, along with five misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and lewd conduct in a public place.
Galliher was initially arrested Oct. 23 while police were on a stakeout near the wetlands at Bolsa Chica Street south of Los Patos Avenue, where they had fielded complaints of a flasher, Rodriguez said. Police saw Galliher exposing and touching himself just before he was arrested, Rodriguez alleged.
Galliher, who is assigned to the LAPD’s Southwest Station, was put on administrative leave after his arrest, Huntington Beach police Lt. Mitch O’Brien said.
Galliher, who posted $100,000 bail and was released from custody, faces up to four years in prison and registering as a sex offender if convicted.
The officer is accused of exposing himself to a 12-year-old girl in the Bolsa Chica wetlands area Feb. 27 and asking her to touch him, Rodriguez said. He allegedly exposed himself to the same girl near Bolsa Chica Street again on March 10.
The defendant allegedly struck again on April 18, exposing himself to an 80-year-old woman near Bolsa Chica Street, Rodriguez said.
On June 17, the defendant, wearing only tennis shoes, allegedly exposed himself to a 43-year-old woman in the wetlands area. On Oct. 20, a nude Galliher whistled at two women — ages 18 and 19 — in the wetlands area where they were jogging, Rodriguez alleged.
Investigators suspect there may be additional unreported incidents involving the defendant, Rodriguez said. Anyone with information was asked to call a police tip line at (714) 375-5066, or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mark Gutierrez at (714) 347-8864.
— City News Service