South Fulton patrol officer relieved of duty, charged with sexual assault, police say

A South Fulton patrol officer has been relieved of duty after officials say he was arrested for sexual assault on Wednesday.

Officer Micheal Shealey Cochran is facing charges of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority and violation of oath of office.

Authorities say the assault happened in the early morning hours of March 21 after Cochran responded to reports of a domestic dispute. Investigators say he turned off his body camera as he met with the 28-year-old victim in the case.

According to officials, Cochran found that the woman had warrants for her arrest, handcuffed her, and put her in the back of his patrol vehicle. Evidence showed that he took the woman to an undisclosed location, sexually assaulted her, and then continued on to the DeKalb County Jail. It was there that the woman reported to other staff members that she had been sexually assaulted.

The 30-year-old officer is on administrative leave and is currently being processed at the Fulton County Jail. Interim Public Safety Director Dr. Cedric Alexander said he will be fired.

Officials with the South Fulton Police Department say that the case is being held with "the highest level of priority, urgency and oversight."

"No one is above the law. These actions represent a serious violation of the law, department policy, and the trust placed in our officers by the community. The South Fulton Police Department holds its personnel to the highest standards, and we will not tolerate conduct that betrays the badge or the public we serve," interim Public Safety  Alexander said.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Alexander says that the department is going through other instances where Cochran took people into custody to see if there were any "prior improprieties."