Police Officer resigns in New Kensington after excessive force investigation

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New Kensington, Pa. – A New Kensington Police officer has resigned after being on suspension due to possible use of excessive force on July 27th, 2026 incident along Woodmont Avenue.

According to the criminal complaint, 911 dispatch advised officers they received a report of two individuals who hopped a fence of a vacant property attempting to gain access to a garage. The complaint states the caller provided excact descriptions of the two individuals riding bicycles in the 1200 block of Kenya Alley.

3 police officers responded to the scene. When police arrived, one individual was sitting on her bike and subsequently detained while the second individual identified as Anthony Delarosa, age 55 of New Kensington, was also sitting on his bike. Delarosa was advised to get off his bike.

Officer Nathaniel Cochran of the New Kensington Police Department and Officer Loose of the Arnold Police Department attempted to get Delarosa off his bike to a grassy area to secure him. Delarosa continued to resist officers and had to be assisted to the ground placing him into detainment after being told, “to put his hands behind his back”. Westmoreland 911 was advised of one detained and one person resisting.

The attempt to detain: Delarosa was restraining his own arms in a prone position under his chest, flailing his body around to avoid officers from controlling his arms. The complaint goes on to further detail Delarosa was given 3 brief taser drive stuns to the lower rear back area which were innefective. Delarosa attempted to bite Officer Cochran’s right inner thigh. Officer Cochran delivered a few elbow strikes to Delarosa’s facial region in an attempt to prevent him from biting.

Police were able to handcuff the suspect for transport to the New Kensington Police Staton. EMS was summonded to the police station for a male with facial injuries. Delarosa was searched incident to the arrest where two flashlights and personal property were located.

The female individual, was searched and in possession of two flashlights and a yellow handle pair of pliers.

The complaint states a use of force form was completed.

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Delarosa subsequently went to the hospital with serious facial injuries.

Delarosa was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and loitering at night. The preliminary arraignment was held on 7-28-2026 and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 8-12-2026 and was continued two additional times while the investigation continued by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.

The Resignation: While Officer Cochran was on suspension from the New Kensington Police Department, a New Kensington resident came forward with previous allegations concerning Officer Cochran’s conduct. While those allegations were investigated, no criminal wrongdoing was determined by the DA’s office.

The third attempt at a preliminary hearing is scheduled on November 18, before the Honorable Magisterial District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.

AKVMEDIA.COM will update this story as more details become available.