Criminal charges have been filed against former New Kensington Police Officer Nathaniel Cochran, 25, after an investigation revealed he allegedly accepted cash from a defendant to delete text messages and dismiss drug charges against her.
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announced the charges following a joint investigation by the district attorney’s office and county detectives.
Cochran is charged with tampering with public record, unsworn falsification, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, official oppression and obstruction of administration of law. The charges stem from a November 2024 traffic stop during which Cochran arrested a woman for drug possession before withdrawing the charges the following month…