Judge declares mistrial in Detroit corruption case; jurors point to race as sticking point

Judge declares mistrial in Detroit corruption case

DETROIT — A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a Detroit political consultant charged with public corruption.

Federal prosecutors say they will retry Sam Riddle, who was accusing of working with a Detroit City Council member to shake down businesses for bribes in exchange for favors.

U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn declared a mistrial Wednesday during the sixth day of jury deliberations. He said last week that jurors were having trouble agreeing on a verdict.

Jurors say deliberations were tinged with racial tension they blamed on a holdout who was the only black on the jury. Riddle is black.

He said after the mistrial was declared that “the American system of justice worked.”

Riddle’s former boss, Monica Conyers, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and resigned last summer. in a Detroit suburb.