Off-duty LAPD cop arrested for alleged lewd conduct in O.C.

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer was arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct by Huntington Beach detectives who were investigating reports of a man exposing himself in the Bolsa Chica wetlands, police announced Wednesday.

Ryan Galliher, a 33-year-old Huntington Beach resident, was arrested Thursday morning after detectives saw him “commit a lewd act” along a pathway near Bolsa Chica Street south of Los Patos Avenue, said Huntington Beach police Lt. Mitch O’Brien.

Galliher, who joined the department in late 2011 and was assigned to the LAPD’s Southwest Division, has been assigned to home pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, said LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman. An internal LAPD investigation has also been opened, he said.

“It’s always disappointing any time one of our officers is arrested by any agency,” Neiman said. “But we are fully cooperating with Huntington Beach until the investigations are complete.”

The Huntington Beach detectives were conducting surveillance after receiving about a half-dozen reports in recent months of a man exposing himself in the area near the ecological preserve, O’Brien said.

The lieutenant said detectives were still trying to determine whether Galliher was involved in the previous alleged incidents.

“We’re looking into it,” he said.

Galliher was booked and released from the Huntington Beach jail. It was unclear when he would appear in court.

The arrest wasn’t revealed until Wednesday, O’Brien said, because detectives were interviewing victims who reported the previous incidents and wanted to “protect the integrity of the case.”

O’Brien said detectives believe there may be additional incidents that were not reported to police. Anyone with information was asked to call police at (714) 375-5066 or (855) 847-6627.

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