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Columbus Officer Accused of Tampering with Evidence in Encounters with Women
Columbus, OH – A Columbus police officer is facing federal charges after a grand jury indicted him on accusations of deliberately turning off his body-worn camera during interactions with women while on duty. The alleged actions, authorities say, were an attempt to obstruct a federal investigation.
Nicholas P. Duty, 35, of Commercial Point, Ohio, was arrested this morning and is scheduled to appear in federal court at 12:45pm today. He’s been charged with two counts of destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation, a crime that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
According to the indictment unsealed today, Duty allegedly deactivated or removed his body-worn camera on two separate occasions: October 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024. The indictment specifically alleges that one of these incidents involved a sexual encounter. Duty, while in uniform, driving a marked police vehicle, and assigned a body-worn camera, knowingly violated Columbus Division of Police policy by failing to activate and maintain the recording device.
The case is being spearheaded by a multi-agency task force including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Columbus Police Department, the ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI. The investigation falls under the umbrella of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, suggesting the potential for a broader investigation into related offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker emphasized that an indictment represents allegations, and Duty is presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, the charges paint a disturbing picture of a law enforcement officer allegedly abusing his position of power and attempting to conceal his actions from scrutiny. The feds are asking anyone with information about the case or other potential crimes committed by Duty to come forward.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6336) or Columbus Division of Police Internal Affairs at 614-645-4880, specifically requesting to speak with a member of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. This is a developing story, and Grimy Times will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Sex Crimes|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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