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‘All I want is justice:’ Woonsocket man threatens lawsuit over unlawful arrest
By Sophia SzaboJusolyn Flower,
2024-08-23
WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — A Woonsocket man is threatening to sue the city after being arrested and detained for a crime he did not commit.
Two years ago, Mack Blackie was unlawfully arrested and detained twice, charged, and spent a month in jail before exoneration.
“All I want is for justice to be done,” Blackie told 12 News.
Earlier this month, Blackie sent a letter to the city, demanding justice for his wrongful arrest. In the letter, Blackie stated he is prepared to sue Woonsocket for over $100,000 in damages if the city does not settle the matter 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 reads.
Arnold Street break-in
The letter alleges that, on the morning of Aug. 22, 2022, a couple reported a break-in at their Arnold Street apartment.
What happened next, Blackie said, changed his life forever.
Officer Timothy Hammond, then employed by the Woonsocket Police Department (WPD), met with the victims and promised to schedule a photo lineup for them to identify the suspect, the letter says.
However, on Aug. 30, 2022, Hammond submitted an affidavit for an arrest warrant for Blackie, claiming the victims had identified him as the perpetrator.
Blackie was shocked and confused when police arrested him for the break-in. His lawyer, Joshua Xavier, says the affidavit Hammond submitted was false.
“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,” Xavier said.
Second arrest
During his arraignment, Blackie collapsed in the courtroom, his letter to the city alleges. He spent nine days in the intensive care unit at Landmark Medical Center, and the arrest warrant was temporarily withdrawn.
However, police submitted Hammond’s affidavit to District Court again in October and arrested him again on Oct. 23, 2022. He was charged with unlawful breaking and entering as well as assault and battery, and held without bail as a probation violator for 17 days.
Blackie, who is unhoused, ultimately spent approximately 31 days in jail, as he was unable to pay 10% of the $1,000 surety bail set by the court. Workers at a Woonsocket nonprofit where Blackie volunteered were eventually able to raise the $100 needed to secure his release, according to the letter.
During a pre-trial hearing in February 2023, the victims saw Blackie in person for the first time and quickly realized he was not the person who broke into their apartment.
Blackie’s charges were dropped, and R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha ordered to have them cleared from his record.
Aftermath
“He suffered significant emotional distress and harm and all of that stems from the unlawful actions taken by the police,” Xavier said.
He added that the system’s failure continues to affect Blackie to this day.
“He’s an innocent person who was punished for a wrongdoing that he just did not commit,” Xavier said. “So that is severely depressing. That is severely taxing, and it’s something that is unfortunate and should not have been done.”
The Woonsocket Police Department (WPD) released a statement acknowledging Officer Hammond’s wrongdoing.
“The internal affairs investigation concluded that Detective Timothy Hammond failed standard investigative procedures, which ultimately led to the improper arrest of Mr. Blackie,” WPD said. “Detective Hammond accepted responsibility for his actions, was transferred from the detective division, and accepted a period of suspension.”
WPD also told 12 News that Orlan Thomas has now been charged for the break-in, with his case still pending.
In a statement, Woonsocket Solicitor Michael Leppizzera said, “The officer has acknowledged the shortcomings of his investigation in failing to follow standard investigative procedures which the police department had in place. However, and importantly, these were shortcomings and lapses in following protocol and nothing intentional on the part of the officer.”
So his version of justice is cash?? Justice would be everyone involved in his supposed unlawful detainment being fired. It's about time the police and the AG's involved face consequences for bullshit charges. That's if this is the case here. He must have been on probation and that's why he didn't get bail.
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