DETROIT, Mich (WJBK) Did a Detroit Police Sergeant knowingly help send an innocent man to prison? That's exactly what Elroy Jones' attorney is alleging. For the first time a witness is coming forward with information that seems to support his theory.
"You would remember somebody if they put a gun in your face," says witness wishing to remain anonymous.
And the man he remembers is not the one who's doing time. In 2006, this man who we are not identifying was outside this Detroit apartment building the moment Cleo McDougal was murdered.
"We heard a round of gunfire ... pop, pop, pop," says witness wishing to remain anonymous.
He says he tried to run but soon he was staring down the barrel of an AK-47.
"He told me you want some of this..I froze up... I replied back no, I'm with you. let's go get him," says witness wishing to remain anonymous.
The killer let him go. The witness says he told police everything he knew..and came in to pick him out of a line up. And that is where he says things took a bizarre turn.
"The detective he asked me do you see anybody that you saw that day pull a gun on you? So I'm looking at the guys real good and I told him no. And he says look even better."
He says the man the sergeant wanted him to identify was Elroy Jones.
He proceeded to tell me yes, it is. That's the guy right there.. that's him right there. And I said no, it's not. So we got into a debate...a small argument.. me telling him it's not him and him telling me it is him."
Stories like that are exactly why Elroy's attorney says he was set up. The witness never picked Elroy out of that lineup and testified in his defense. But that wasn't enough. Elroy was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. But now six years later..new evidence is raising serious questions. A witness who identified Elroy says he chose the wrong man. And in his statement to police he says I feel like I owe the guy I testified against an apology. And a tip came in just days after the murder identifying another man who witnesses now say is the real killer. And that tip went nowhere.
"None of that information..it's just a complete vacuum. One sergeant made a determination that Mr. Jones was a bad person and that because he was a bad person he was going to dispatched some justice of his own." says Attorney Craig Tank
And now this attorney is asking a judge to overturn the conviction and release Elroy Jones from prison.
"I know that this man is in here doing time for something he didn't do... didn't know nothing about. And the actual killer' is just out here living life," says witness wishing to remain anonymous.
Fox 2's Alexis Wiley says the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is investigating and will look into the information the witness is providing.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:39 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:39:46 GMT
Army Specialist Jenna Beno bravely fought for our country. Sadly, she died after an attack in Iraq. Thursday, the young soldier was honored during an emotional ceremony in Clarkston.
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More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
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Monday, May 20 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:08:56 GMT
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Friday, May 24 2013 11:58 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:58:44 GMT
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Friday, May 24 2013 11:18 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:18:53 GMT
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Friday, May 24 2013 10:34 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:34:36 GMT
The pediatrician called him a big baby, his parents believed their boy was genetically destined to be obese, but he proved them all wrong. One day, he made a critical decision and became a weight loss winner.
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Friday, May 24 2013 8:54 PM EDT2013-05-25 00:54:08 GMT
More than 150 dogs have been removed from locations owned by a breeding facility in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula, where officials said the animals were living in outdoor enclosures with little protection.
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Friday, May 24 2013 7:06 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:06:29 GMT
Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger, an institution for generations of University of Michigan students in Ann Arbor, is about to undergo a historic change of address.
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Friday, May 24 2013 5:31 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:31:37 GMT
A home explosion in Royal Oak back in February killed a man and damaged dozens of houses. Now some homeowners are complaining that insurance companies are making repairs difficult.
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Friday, May 24 2013 1:52 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:52:39 GMT
Alan Lee asks Wallace if the subject of Viagara will 'come up' in Wallace's scheduled interview with former Senator Bob Dole. Wallace responds, "Comes up, really that's what you're going to say?"
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Friday, May 24 2013 1:29 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:29:01 GMT
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Witness alleges this man is innocent
