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Blackwell reportedly conducted own investigation, violated policy

June 13, 2017
<p>The MSU police building.</p>

The MSU police building.

Former MSU football staff member Curtis Blackwell "took it upon himself to investigate" the alleged sexual assault by three ex-MSU football players, according to MSU police documents obtained by the Lansing State Journal through the Freedom of Information Act.

According to the police report, Blackwell conducted his own interviews to determine if the sex was consensual. He did not share the information he gathered with police or MSU's Title IX office.

Blackwell was suspended with pay Feb. 9, the same day the three football players were suspended from the team. His contract with the university was not renewed and expired in May. Little was known about these situations at the time.

According to the police report, Blackwell talked to football players and gathered information about the incident on Jan. 16. Blackwell also communicated with one of the suspects' fathers via text message about the incident.

Blackwell didn't report the information he obtained until police interviewed him Feb. 8. This would violate MSU's mandatory reporting policy.

Blackwell has not been charged for any crime, the Lansing State Journal reports.

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