WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — The City of Woonsocket is facing a lawsuit over the unlawful arrest and prosecution of a man falsely accused of crimes, including a felony.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Rhode Island filed the lawsuit Thursday on behalf of Mack Blackie , a Woonsocket resident who was arrested, detained twice, and prosecuted two years ago for crimes he did not commit.
In early August, Blackie’s attorneys sent a letter to the city demanding justice and compensation, threatening legal action if the matter wasn’t resolved outside of court.
“Please note that Mr. Blackie intends to seek punitive damages over the City’s and its agents’ reckless and callous indifference to Mr. Blackie’s protected rights,” the letter read.
BACKGROUND: ‘All I want is justice:’ Woonsocket man threatens lawsuit over unlawful arrest According to the letter, Woonsocket Police Officer Timothy Hammond submitted a false affidavit, claiming Blackie had been identified as the perpetrator of an apartment break-in on Aug. 22, 2022.
Hammond reportedly met with one of the victims a week after the incident and asked twice if Blackie was the suspect. Each time, the victim said Blackie was not involved.
“One of the officers who was investigating this crime wrote in his statement that he would schedule a photo lineup, but that photo lineup did not occur,” Joshua Xavier, Blackie’s attorney, told 12 News .
Blackie was charged with breaking and entering, as well as assault and battery, and held without bail for 17 days due to his probation status. Unable to afford bail, he ultimately spent approximately one month in jail.
Last February, the charges were dropped and expunged after the victims saw Blackie during a pre-trial conference and immediately realized he wasn’t the person who broke into their apartment.
“Portions of Mr. Blackie’s life were taken from him that he will never get back because of the unlawful actions taken against him and he has suffered significant emotional distress, pain, and suffering as a result,” Xavier said in a statement to 12 News. “This case demonstrates that the harm caused by injustice is exacerbated significantly when the victims of the injustice are indigent.”
The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island to rule that Hammond violated Blackie’s rights and that the City of Woonsocket must be held accountable for the officer’s actions. It demands financial compensation, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial.
The Woonsocket Police Department declined to comment on the lawsuit. 12 News reached out to the City of Woonsocket for a statement but has not received a response.
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