News Releases

June 8, 2021: Sheriff’s Deputy Charged With Destroying Evidence, Assault During 2019 Incident in Lancaster

Contact: 
Greg Risling, Assistant Media Chief
(213) 257-2000

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with altering evidence where she allegedly assaulted a man during an arrest in Lancaster two years ago.

“Tampering or destroying evidence tarnishes law enforcement and creates mistrust among the public,” District Attorney Gascón said.

Nicole Bell (dob 12/15/93) was charged in case BA495954 with one felony count each of accessing and altering computer data without permission, altering, planting or concealing evidence as a peace officer and assault by an officer.

The case was filed for warrant on June 4. Arraignment is expected to be scheduled at a later date.

On July 30, 2019, the defendant responded to a call in Lancaster. Bell is accused of assaulting a man while he sat in the back of a patrol vehicle.

A family member recorded some of the incident on a cell phone and Bell allegedly deleted the video from the phone.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.