FRENCH VALLEY: More facts emerging about deputy who caused 20-hour stand-off
Alcide Galley Jr. was arrested after a 20-hour standoff at his home in French Valley.
RIVERSIDE – More facts are emerging about Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Alcide Galley Jr., 49, who caused a nearly 20-hour stand-off Aug. 31 with deputies and members of the Hemet/Murrieta Special Operations Unit (SWAT) at his French Valley home. (Click link to view original report and subsequent updates.)
Towards the end of the nearly day long stand-off Galley Jr. was finally taken into custody without incident Sept. 1 at about 6:30 a.m. after a SWAT team deployed tear gas into the home.
The sheriff’s department has described Galley Jr. as a deputy sheriff trainee. New sheriff’s deputies are normally considered trainees for 18 months. The 18 month “trainee” designation begins after the successful conclusion of the sheriff’s academy.
About a week before Galley Jr. caused the lengthy stand-off, the sheriff’s department investigated his actions as part of an alleged spousal abuse case. As part of that investigation Galley Jr. was placed on a 72-hour mental health evaluation hold after he allegedly threatened to kill himself, according to Superior Court records.
During the 20-hour-long stand-off, sheriff’s officials cordoned off and evacuated the entire neighborhood. William Hayes photo
During the stand-off officials evacuated neighboring homes and nearby residents as a precautionary measure, displacing dozens of families.
The overnight stand-off left many families with no place to stay and left some residents angered and frustrated, others were grateful for the protection the involved departments provided them and how they handled the dangerous incident. Many spent the entire night just outside the cordoned off neighborhood, kept from being able to go home, gather personal belongings, or take care of their pets.
In a court hearing related to the original domestic violence incident Tuesday, Sept. 6 in Riverside County Superior Court, Galley Jr. pleaded not guilty to felony spousal abuse, false imprisonment, and assault likely to cause great bodily injury charges. He also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge related to the prolonged stand-off.
An additional original charge of assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury stemming from the stand-off was not filed by the District Attorney’s office.
The joint Hemet/Murrieta Special Operations Unit assisted the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team during the 20-hour standoff. William Hayes photo
During that hearing a declaration filed by a sheriff’s investigator sought an increase in Galley Jr.’s bail from $25,000 to $500,000.
The investigator’s increase in bail was granted after he described how Galley Jr. was asked repeatedly why he refused to exit his home despite being asked repeatedly by law enforcement peacefully exit his residence. Galley Jr. refused to exit his residence and reportedly said he did not want to leave his home allegedly saying, “Because I wanted to kill myself.”
During a Sept. 8 bail review hearing, a judge upheld the bail increase.
In a Sept. 12 email to Riverside County News Source, Galley Jr.’s sister Bridget Galley spoke about the incidents that led up to the stand-off.
“(My brother) was bullied and harassed at the department,” Bridget claimed. The department pushed him past his breaking point, according to Bridget.
A robot was used during the 20-hour stand-off. William Hayes photo
“Before my brother went into the Aroura Behavioral Center the (sheriff’s Department) came and took all of (his) guns, except the one he had in that incident,” Bridget explained.
Bridget also alleged that the sheriff’s department stole $800 from Galley Jr., explaining the cash her brother had was inside a backpack along with the gun and ammunition. According to Bridget the department left the gun and ammunition in the backpack, but took his cash. Bridget claimed the gun and ammunition left in the backpack were what he used during the subsequent stand-off.
“This whole incident would not have gotten that out of hand if they would have taken the gun,” Bridget alleged.
One of at least two windows that were broken during the hours-long standoff. William Hayes photo
Wadia Boyadjian, another person with close personal ties to Galley Jr.’s family wrote to Riverside County News Source on Sept. 10 complaining vehemently about the way the whole incident and stand-off was handled.
“I cannot begin to say how disgusted I am from the (involved departments) for going to this measure of destroying the home of this family to get Alcide Galley out of his home,” Boyadjian wrote. “He was alone in his home wanting to kill himself. He was only a threat to himself.”
Boyadjian claimed the departments involved in bringing the stand-off to a peaceful conclusion “left this family with a house that is in ruins,” and she claimed, “nobody offered to help them.”
“They left (his family) to fend for themselves, with a broken front door, 15 windows broken, and a substantial amount of money missing.”
Damage can be seen to the front door of the residence and at least two windows that were smashed out could be seen after the end of the 20-hour-long standoff. William Hayes photo
One of Boyadjian’s biggest complaints was that during the stand-off the involved departments would not allow Galley Jr.’s wife to speak with him during the incident, saying, “I’m sure she could have persuaded him to come out of the house.”
“I feel that this was handled in the worse manner that I have ever seen in my life,” Boyadjian continued. “(The incident caused) approximately $100,000 dollars in damages to this family home! I’m disgusted to say the least!”
Galley Jr. remains in custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside in lieu of $500,000 bail.
His next scheduled court date is scheduled for Oct 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 11 (soon to be 12) grandchildren.
Asshole got what he deserved spousal abuse has no place in this society
Larry Raven, I am glad to see you understand nothing about what our criminal justice system is based on, “Innocent, until proven guilty.” I love it when mentally challenged people have access to the internet and make extremely stupid displays he way you have, the charges are a mere accusation, nothing more. The guilt or innocence of the accused, will be determined by a trial.
I’ve noticed the bigger the Internet gets, the less prominent the assumption of innocence becomes. It seems the meme is now it is “innocent until accused on social media- no need for a trial”. The article did mention that he was no threat to anybody but himself at that time.
What bothers me is the family being so concerned about the damages and the accusations of it not being necessary and costing 100, 000 in damages..and blaming the whole incodent on the departed if they had not given him back the gun he used in the stand off. Ya lets blame them even though they never knew he was suicidal and we did leading up to the stand off. Mental issues or not..the family didn’t seem to be too concerned until after the incident. But in all seriousness, I can’t help but want to laugh when anyone can say that 14 windows and a door to that home cost 100,000. Right….As for the family friend commenting” basically you should leave it be if he wants to kill himself and who knows, possibly harm others if not then maybe soon after.
I meant blaming the department
Really Brenda Strattman, your so ignorant with your comments. You, have no idea what my family has gone through. You think were concerned just about the house. You have no idea? Why didn’t you come and help and maybe you would’ve seen there was more than just windows destroyed. I’M sure if your house was destroyed or any of your personal belongings your telling me you wouldn’t be distraught esp. if its your home where your kids live…..get real. My husband, was a typical hard working man that would do anything for his family more than any man. He was the type of father that would braid our daughters hair and bake 3 tiered cakes for her bday. He was assistant coach for our sons football team and would surprise our kids to go to his favorite Bronco team and cooked dinner when i worked long hours and cleaned and folded laundry. Please, pray for my family for peace and our safety rather than these hurtful comments. No one ever knows what another person is going through unless you walk in their shoes. Please have some compassion for others Brenda. I know i shouldn’t feed off of all this ugliness and no matter despite my family and friends advise not to read comments its still no one will understand a family was destroyed and we are working on healing so please pray for that.
Oh, Brenda I’m also so sorry you were bothered with this and that you got a good laugh. I think your old enough to know what you read and see sometimes doesn’t show the whole picture.
(im the son of the man this happened too.) but so ignorant social media is. ypou criticize without knowing nothing. my dad was a marine veteran suffering from PTSD and was mentally unstable for years. i called the sheriffs department a week before this incident explaining that he left a strange suicide note and they took all but one of his guns. when something like that happens you take all weapons, its a failure on the police departments part for not taking ALL his weapons.
I am so sorry you, your father and your entire family have been effected by your dad’s troubles. I truly hope he has been getting whatever help he needs for his PTSD; which can be life-destroying. I too, was an RSO employee and spent 13 years with the department as a sex crimes and child abuse investigator until I was medically booted after I lost my leg in an off-duty accident. I also suffer from severe PTSD, which some days, I barely manage to survive through….I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
-TM