LAPD officer arrested for indecent exposure, lewd conduct

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- An LAPD officer was arrested Tuesday night in Huntington Beach for attempting to commit a lewd act and indecent exposure, and further potential victims are being sought by the Orange County District Attorney's Office and the H.B. Police Department.

LAPD Officer Ryan Eric Galliher, 33, a resident of Huntington Beach, was arrested at his residence Tuesday night. He was charged with attempting to commit a lewd act with a 12-year-old girl; one felony count of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act; five misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure; and one misdemeanor count of engaging in lewd conduct.

On October 20, Galliher allegedly stood naked in the Bolsa Chica wetlands area and whistled at two female joggers, 18 and 19, exposing himself to them. The women reported the crime and gave a description of the suspect to Huntington Beach Police.

Three days later Galliher allegedly walked out of the same wetlands area, exposed his penis and masturbated in public. HBPD officers patrolling the area located Galliher, who matched the earlier suspect description, and arrested him at the scene. Galliher was booked and released on $1,000 bail while the investigation was ongoing.

The OCDA's Office then filed multiple charges against Galliher Tuesday, and he was arrested Tuesday night at his Huntington Beach residence.

The OCDA's Office alleges Galliher approached a 12-year-old girl in the Bolsa Chica wetlands area in February, exposed his penis to her and asked her to touch it. He is accused of approaching her again two weeks later near Bolsa Chica Street and exposing himself to her.

Galliher allegedly approached an 80-year-old woman near Bolsa Chica Street and exposed his penis to her in April.

Galliher allegedly approached a 43-year-old woman in the Bolsa Chica wetlands area while he was wearing nothing but tennis shoes and exposed himself to the woman in June.

Galliher has been placed on administrative leave by the LAPD. He was an officer with the LAPD at the time of the crimes, according to the OCDA's Office.

Galliher was released on $100,000 bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Galliher is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 5, 2015.

Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact the HBPD Tip Line at (714) 375-5066 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mark Gutierrez at (714) 347-8864.