South Fulton Officer Charged With Sexual Assault During Custodial Transport
SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — A City of South Fulton police officer has been arrested and charged after investigators say he sexually assaulted a woman while she was in custody during a transport to jail.
Michael Shealey Cockran, 30, faces charges of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority and violation of oath by a public officer, according to warrants filed in Fulton County.
The alleged incident began around 1:50 a.m. on March 21, 2026, when Cockran responded to a call about a suspicious person at a Shell gas station on Spence Road. Officers said he encountered a woman matching the description from an earlier call and determined she had an active warrant out of DeKalb County. He placed her under arrest and began transporting her to the DeKalb County Jail.
According to the affidavit, the woman later reported the assault while in custody at the jail. She was taken to Grady for a sexual assault forensic exam.
Investigators said the woman told authorities that Cockran diverted from the direct route to the jail and stopped in a secluded area off Harris Road in Fairburn. She alleged he removed her from the patrol vehicle and forced her to perform sexual acts, including oral sex and intercourse, before continuing the transport.
Authorities reviewed dash camera footage and GPS data from the patrol vehicle, which they say showed Cockran deviated from the route and stopping at the location with the vehicle’s headlights turned off. Video from the patrol car reportedly shows him removing the woman from the vehicle. Investigators noted she later returned to view with her clothing out of place and appeared to adjust her clothing before being placed back inside.
Officials also determined Cockran’s body camera was not recording during a critical portion of the transport.
During an interview on March 24, Cockran initially denied any misconduct, but after being confronted with video evidence, investigators said he admitted to an encounter while claiming it was voluntary. Authorities stated that because the woman was under arrest and in custody, she could not legally consent to sexual activity with an officer.
Investigators said evidence including the victim’s statements, video footage, GPS data, and Cockran’s admissions established probable cause for the charges.
Cockran was taken into custody and remains employed by the department as of the latest update. The case remains under investigation.
