Authorities say Michael Cockran deactivated his body camera before assaulting a woman in custody during a jail transport.
SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — A City of South Fulton police officer is behind bars after investigators say he assaulted a woman he was transporting to jail, according to department officials.
Michael Shealey Cockran, 30, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with sexual assault by a person with supervisory authority and violation of his oath of office.
The incident began late Saturday night when Cockran responded to a domestic assault call. According to the department, Cockran located the 28-year-old victim at a secondary location and discovered she had outstanding warrants in DeKalb County.
Interim Public Safety Director Dr. Cedric Alexander stated that Cockran placed the woman in handcuffs and began the transport to the DeKalb County Jail. However, investigators allege that during the trip, Cockran “took her off track” to a secluded area.
Crucially, investigators say Cockran intentionally deactivated his body-worn camera before the assault occurred. Despite the lack of body cam footage, authorities were able to piece together the officer’s movements using the patrol vehicle’s GPS and internal cameras.
“This was a very quick and swift investigation,” Dr. Alexander said during a press conference. “The evidence was enormous. It was clear, it was concise, and it was certain.”
The victim reported the assault to DeKalb County officials immediately upon her arrival at the jail. South Fulton’s Office of Professional Standards and the Criminal Investigations Division launched a probe that led to Cockran’s arrest less than four days later.
Cockran, who joined the department in September 2024, has been terminated and has surrendered his POST certification.
In a statement posted to social media, the South Fulton Police Department took the rare step of publicly detailing the arrest of one of their own to maintain transparency with the community.
“No one is above the law,” Alexander emphasized. “While this is a disappointing day for our department, it is a testament to our commitment to accountability. We will not tolerate any officer who violates the trust of the citizens we are sworn to protect.”
Cockran was booked into the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday. The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare the case for the District Attorney’s office.