Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing OptionsA former North County Police Cooperative officer pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges stemming from the sexual assaults of 18 men he had detained or arrested while working as a law enforcement officer. Under his plea agreement, Blackwell admitted sexually assaulting the 18 men between Nov. 8, 2022, and June 5, 2023, while employed as an officer with the North County Police Cooperative. In one incident, Blackwell detained two men following a traffic crash. Sixteen of the 18 victims were handcuffed when the assaults occurred. The investigation began June 4, 2023, after a victim who had been assaulted the previous day contacted the North County Police Cooperative.