A West Chester police officer has been charged with tampering with evidence in a death investigation

A former West Chester police officer was charged Wednesday with four felony counts, including tampering with evidence in a death investigation.

Michelle Burling charged with altering Flock camera data and images during investigation into death of Schumacher Park Drive woman in June, Butler County District Attorney Michael Gmoser – the media partner of the Enquirer told Fox19.

Burling was indicted in Butler County Common Pleas Court on two counts of tampering with evidence and one count of tampering with records, according to a grand jury report. Three of the charges are felonies of the third degree.

Berling is accused of committing these acts on or about August 8.

She was also charged with one count of unauthorized use of property, a fifth-degree felony.

She is accused of abusing an Ohio police department’s law enforcement gateway to collect information for her personal use, Gmoser told Fox19.

She is accused of unauthorized use from approximately August 8 to August 13.

The West Chester Police Department became aware of possible “law and policy violations” by Burling during the second week of August, according to a statement obtained by Fox19.

“After a brief internal review and data analysis, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was contacted for assistance. All information has been handed over to the BCI to conduct an independent criminal investigation into the matter,” the statement said.

Burling has been suspended from her duties and placed on paid administrative leave, city spokeswoman Barb Wilson told Fox19. She resigned from the police department on Monday.

Burling’s nomination hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12 before Judge Harold Reed.

The woman, identified as 33-year-old Brittany Sands of Kentucky, was found dead in a strip of trees near the 6000 block of Schumacher Park Drive on June 30West Chester police said in early July. However, it is unclear whether Sands’ death is related to Burling’s case.

The Enquirer reached out to Gmoser for confirmation but did not immediately hear back.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on the Cincinnati Enquirer: A West Chester police officer has been charged with tampering with evidence in a death investigation