New Jersey Sheriff’s Officer Indicted in Car Theft Ring Case

A sheriff’s officer in northern New Jersey who allegedly was involved in a stolen car ring has been indicted on official misconduct charges.

Rafael Galan, a 23-year veteran of the Passaic County sheriff’s office, also faces charges of conspiracy to receive stolen property, receiving stolen property, unlawful alteration to motor vehicle identification numbers, tampering with public records, and misrepresentation in motor-vehicle records.

The indictment was handed up earlier this month by a county grand jury. He faces a lengthy prison sentence if he’s convicted on all charges.

A telephone number for Galan could not be located Wednesday.

Galan has been suspended without pay since November 2011, due to unrelated charges of harassment, terroristic threats and witness tampering.