cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/6188195

A former police officer has been accused of abusing his power in order to detain eight men and sexually assault them.

Marcellis Blackwell, 34, an officer who used to work for North County Police Cooperative in Missouri, was indicted on 21 federal charges on 27 September for the alleged sexual assaults between November 2022 and June 2023.

Sixteen of those counts are for deprivation of rights under the colour of law, meaning he willingly deprived a person of rights over their body.