Unjustly Imprisoned: Black Man Awarded $550K After Month-Long Wrongful Arrest by Rhode Island Officer

The City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, has agreed to a $550,000 settlement in a lawsuit involving the wrongful arrest and imprisonment of Mack Blackie, a homeless Black man, for 31 days for crimes he did not commit. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Rhode Island revealed the settlement last week, representing Blackie, who faced two arrests related to a burglary case marred by misidentification.In August 2022, following a break-in at an apartment, the victim misidentified Blackie, incorrectly linking him to the crime despite clear differences noted by the victim. Despite this, Woonsocket police officer Timothy Hammond filed a false report claiming the victim identified Blackie as the suspect.Having fallen on hard times during the pandemic, Blackie struggled to pay his bail. After being released, he has been rebuilding his life, now working at Olive Garden while planning for his daughter's future education. The police department acknowledges the error, expressing regret for the oversight. (Photo: Mack Blackie Facebook profile)