ARAPAHOE COUNTY – The 18^th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against former Aurora Police Officer Michael James Gallagher in connection with a June 2026 incident.

Around 12:45 p.m. on June 26, 2026, Gallagher stopped a stolen vehicle and arrested the driver after recovering suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Investigators later determined that suspected cocaine Gallagher reported finding was not tested or entered into evidence.

On his way home from work, Gallagher was found unresponsive in his personal vehicle on I-270 in Adams County by a family member who called 9-1-1. A firefighter on scene found a small bag containing a white powdery substance in Gallagher’s sock. The substance later tested presumptively positive for fentanyl and Gallagher was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Based on the preliminary facts of the investigation, Gallagher is charged with the following offenses:

Official Misconduct

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

He has an advisement hearing scheduled for October 20, 2026.

Last week, the Aurora Police Department announced that Gallagher had resigned in lieu of termination following an internal investigation into on-duty misconduct. You can read the Aurora Police Department’s full statement on this matter here.

The suspect arrested in connection with the stolen vehicle was subsequently released from custody after the case was reviewed and the charges were not filed. The decision followed a review of the circumstances surrounding the arrest and concerns regarding Gallagher’s handling of the investigation and the reliability of information contained in his report.

All publicly available court records can be requested via the Courts.

NOTE: Gallagher is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.