Keep Up With Global Black News

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox.

Avatar photo
BY Francis Akhalbey, 9:30am February 06, 2024,

Ex-St. Louis cop accused of sexually assaulting 19 male detainees

Avatar photo
by Francis Akhalbey, 9:30am February 06, 2024,
Former North County Police Cooperative officer Marcellis Blackwell is accused of sexually assaulting 19 male detainees -- Photo Credit: North County Police Cooperative

A former St. Louis police officer was on January 31 indicted on 36 federal charges after he was accused of sexually assaulting 19 male detainees. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 34-year-old Marcellis Blackwell was with the North County Police Cooperative when he sodomized, abused, and groped the male victims. 

Blackwell is said to have committed the sexual assault crimes on male detainees he had either arrested or limited their ability to react. The former police officer had been with the North County Police Cooperative for just a year when he was arrested and charged in connection with the sexual assaults. 

Besides doctoring some records to prevent himself from being implicated, authorities also said the suspect in some instances sexually abused multiple victims in a day. The charges brought against Blackwell came after he was accused of arresting and sexually assaulting a man placed in handcuffs. That incident occurred close to the Normandy High School, and he was charged in connection with that assault in June. The former police officer was subsequently handed a 16-felony indictment by a federal grand jury in September.

Authorities said the men Blackwell is accused of sexually assaulting continued to come forward, adding that investigators who looked through his personal and work phones found several videos and photos of him committing those crimes, the St. Louis Post-Disptach reported. Secret photos of people using public restrooms or small elevators were also found on those devices, court documents stated. 

Blackwell resigned in the wake of the allegations. His alleged actions were also labeled as “massively disheartening” by department spokesman, Maj. Ron Martin. In December, a judge ordered the 34-year-old suspect to remain in custody as he posed a threat to the safety of the community and could make a run for it before the court settled his cases.

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: February 6, 2024

Conversations

Must Read

Connect with us

Join our Mailing List to Receive Updates

Face2face Africa | Afrobeatz+ | BlackStars

Keep Up With Global Black News and Events

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox, plus our curated weekly brief with top stories across our platforms.

No, Thank You