New Kensington, PA – Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announces criminal charges have been filed against former New Kensington Police Officer Nathaniel Cochran, 25.

During the course of investigating an unrelated complaint involving Cochran, the district attorney’s office and county detectives received information that Cochran may have engaged in inappropriate communications with a defendant he arrested in November of 2024 that resulted in criminal charges being withdrawn against the individual by Cochran.

In November of 2024, Cochran filed criminal charges against the defendant for drug possession following a traffic stop. At the time of the traffic stop, Cochran allegedly told the defendant he could help her out if she could set someone up. After the defendant declined, Cochran provided her with a cellphone number for further communication.

Cochran referenced the number given was a work cellphone, however, New Kensington Police confirmed patrolmen are not issued work cellphones, according to investigating Detective Nicholas Caesar.

Within days of the traffic stop, the defendant and Cochran continued communicating on a personal phone number that was registered to Cochran.

The defendant was provided with Cochran’s home address where she visited on two occasions and was told by Cochran not to worry about the charges against her.

In late November of 2024, Cochran contacted the defendant and requested she meet him at a location in Delmont where Cochran requested that she delete the messages between the two of them, and in return was given $1,000 in cash from Cochran.

Cochran withdrew criminal charges in December of 2024 against the defendant.

As a reason for withdrawing criminal charges, Cochran claimed the defendant was serving as a confidential informant, however, the defendant told detectives she never worked as a confidential informant for New Kensington Police Department, which was verified through the administration for New Kensington Police Department and Office of Attorney General.

Detectives served a search warrant on Cochran’s cellphone as part of the investigation.

When questioned by detectives, Cochran claimed he did not know the defendant.

A search of Cochran’s cellphone revealed communication between the two, according to detectives.

Cochran is facing charges for tampering with public record, unsworn falsification, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, official oppression, and obstruction of administration of law.

“This was someone who swore to uphold and protect the law, and within a few years of taking that oath, he egregiously defied and broke the law for his own personal benefit,” DA Ziccarelli said. “This behavior contradicts what the public, rightfully, expects from a law enforcement officer and Mr. Cochran needs to be held accountable.”

Cochran remains under investigation for an unrelated complaint.