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Mar 25, 2024

Man whose robbery conviction was overturned suing Eastpointe Police for $50 million

A Detroit man who served more than seven years in prison for a crime he did not commit is suing Eastpointe Police Deputy Chief Matthew Hambright, the officer in charge of his 2014 case, in federal

A Detroit man who served more than seven years in prison for a crime he did not commit is suing Eastpointe Police Deputy Chief Matthew Hambright, the officer in charge of his 2014 case, in federal court for $50 million.

Mack Howell, 62, was accused of robbing an Eastpointe 7-Eleven in 2014 and was convicted of armed robbery and felony firearm and sentenced to 25-50 years in prison. Throughout the trial and the duration of his incarceration, Howell maintained that he was innocent.

In March 2023, Howell’s conviction was overturned and he was exonerated by the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Wolfgang Mueller on behalf of Howell, alleges Hambright withheld evidence that would have exonerated Howell.

“The officer that we are suing was also the officer in charge of the case of a serial armed robber of several 7-Eleven locations in the area,” said Mueller. “Another person had pleaded guilty to those robberies and (Hambright) did not turn that information over to the prosecutor.”

Mueller said Howell did not match the description of the robber and that he has physical limitations and walks with a cane, so could not have run from the scene as was described by witnesses. The robber was described as 6-foot tall with a medium build and wearing black pants, black hoodie and black mask that covered most of his face.

Howell is 5-foot-6 and weighs 200 pounds.

“The man who was arrested for and pled guilty to the serial robberies of several 7-Eleven stores matches the description of the robber of the Eastpointe 7-Eleven,” said Mueller. “It was the same dark clothing, same method of operation as the other robberies.

“If you are Mack Howell who could not even walk half a block, you are not going to be running out of the store.”

Eastpointe Police Chief Corey Haines said the matter is being handled by the department’s litigation attorney. Haines said he is unable to comment on any internal or external investigations that may or may not be happening.

“We do take this very seriously and will be handling this in accordance with the recommendations of our attorneys,” Haines said.

Mueller alleges Hambright tried to make connections between the evidence and his client that did not exist.

“Hambright decided Mr. Howell was his suspect and started pounding square pegs into round holes in order to support his theory,” Mueller said. “Our system deserves better than that and our citizens and our good police officers deserve better than that.”

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