COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus police officer has been arrested and indicted by a grand jury on charges of destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation, according to a press release from the office of United States Attorney Kenneth Parker Southern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that officer Nicholas Duty, 35, of Commerical Point, Ohio, purposefully deactivated or removed his body camera on two occasions and that these “actions intended to impede, obstruct or influence a federal investigation.”

“Specifically, it is alleged that on Oct. 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deactivated or removed his body worn camera during interactions with two women, including during a sexual encounter,” the release reads.

The release specifies that Duty was on-duty during these incidents, that he was wearing his uniform and in a marked vehicle with an assigned body camera.

“Knowingly altering records to obstruct a federal investigation is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison,” the release reads.