Charges Added Against Former Missouri Police Officer Accused of Sexually Abusing Detainees

ST. LOUIS – A grand jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday returned a superseding indictment accusing a former officer with the North County Police Cooperative of sexually assaulting 19 men that he detained or arrested.

Marcellis Blackwell, 34, of St. Louis, was originally indicted in September. Wednesday’s indictment brings the total to 36 charges: 19 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to bodily integrity, and 17 counts of altering records in a federal investigation. 

The new indictment says that between Nov. 8, 2022, and June 5, 2023, Blackwell fondled the genitals of 19 alleged victims who he had detained and/or restrained. Blackwell also is accused in the indictment of sodomizing one of the men with his finger, an act of aggravated sexual abuse. The indictment also says Blackwell’s conduct constituted the kidnapping of the alleged victims. An additional count of altering the records of another arrest brings the number of alleged/charged victims to 20.

FBI St. Louis has established a hotline for potential victims of Blackwell: (314) 589-2682.

Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The FBI investigated the case, following an initial investigation conducted by the North County Police Cooperative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.