Trial for Three Tacoma Officers Accused of Murder and Manslaughter in the Death of a Black Individual Set to Commence

The court process is due to initiate on Monday for the three police officers in Tacoma, Washington, implicated in the 2020 death of a 33-year-old Black man. The man suffered from physical restraints that included being tackled, punched, and tasered before being held face-down on a sidewalk, all occurring two months prior to George Floyd’s similar demise.

Accused officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins face charges of second-degree murder, while Timothy Rankine is charged with first-degree manslaughter in the case of Manuel “Manny” Ellis. All three accused are of white ethnicity and have entered pleas of not guilty.

Preliminary remarks in the trial are slated for October 2nd at the Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma. The trial proceedings are expected to be conducted four days a week and extend until December.

On the fateful night, Ellis had purchased a box of doughnuts and water from a convenience store at approximately 11:21 p.m. Subsequently, he crossed the street and came into contact with officers Burbank and Collins, as stated in the probable cause document submitted by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

Burbank and Collins claim that Ellis attempted to enter an unfamiliar vehicle and assaulted them upon confrontation. However, eyewitness accounts contradict this, stating that the officers preemptively exited their patrol car and forced Ellis to the ground. Multiple witnesses captured the encounter on their mobile devices, urging the officers to cease their actions.

Footage captured by a bystander in a nearby vehicle shows Officer Burbank grappling Ellis, hoisting him into the air, and forcefully dropping him onto the concrete while striking him with his fist. Collins subsequently pinned Ellis down, delivering multiple blows to his head with his fist, according to the same document. During this time, Burbank also drew his Taser weapon and approached Ellis.

Collins was seen applying a chokehold to Ellis, whose head then slumped down on the pavement. Collins continued to press down on Ellis’ back while shoving his face into the ground.

A nearby doorbell security camera recorded Ellis articulating his inability to breathe. One of the officers dismissively responded with expletives.

Subsequently, the officers employed a hobble restraint to bind Ellis’s legs to his handcuffs in a “hog-tie” fashion, also covering his head with a spit-hood. Following the application of these restraints, Ellis ceased to show any movement.

Prosecutors cited that all eyewitnesses confirm that Ellis did not resist during the physical altercation.

The cause of death, as identified by the Pierce County Medical Examiner, was “hypoxia” due to physical restraint, ruling the manner of death as homicide. Defense attorneys for the officers argued that Ellis was resisting arrest, necessitating the use of force, while experts hired by the defense attributed his death to methamphetamine use and preexisting cardiac issues, describing it as an “accident.”

Initially, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, but it was later handed over to the Washington State Patrol by Governor Jay Inslee when it was revealed that sheriff’s personnel were involved in the detention. The decision to charge was subsequently made by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

The filing of these charges on May 27, 2021, marks the first instance where the state’s Attorney General has charged a law enforcement officer with murder, following the enactment of Initiative 940 in 2018 that eliminated the necessity to demonstrate malice on the officer’s part for such charges.

In a parallel development, the family of Ellis has lodged a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and the officers. While the county settled for $4 million in 2022, terminating its involvement in the case, Ellis’ sister Monet Carter-Mixon and mother Marcia Carter continue their legal battle against the city of Tacoma.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tacoma Officers Trial for Death of Manuel Ellis

More about Tacoma Officers Trial for Death of Manuel Ellis

• Pierce County Superior Court
• Washington State Initiative 940
• Washington Attorney General’s Office
• Statement on Police Use of Force
• Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Washington State
• Pierce County Medical Examiner
• Governor Jay Inslee’s Office