Tacoma officers verdict reached in Manny Ellis death case
A verdict has been reached in the trial of three Tacoma police officers charged in the death of Manuel 'Manny' Ellis, who died in police custody in March 2020.
A jury on Thursday found three Tacoma, Washington, police officers on trial for the death of Manuel "Many" Ellis not guilty on murder and manslaughter charges.
Ellis died while in Tacoma police custody after he was allegedly beaten, shocked and hogtied facedown on a sidewalk in March 2020.
The Pierce County medical examiner ruled Ellis’ death a homicide caused by oxygen deprivation, but lawyers for the officers said a high level of methamphetamine in Ellis’ system and a heart irregularity were factors in his death.
Tacoma Police Officers Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank, who were first on the scene, were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.
MEDICAL EXPERT SAYS MANUEL ELLIS DIED FROM OXYGEN DEPRIVATION AS TACOMA POLICE RESTRAINED HIM
Officer Timothy Rankine, who was a part of the second unit on scene, was charged with first-degree manslaughter.
A doorbell surveillance camera recorded parts of the incident which showed Ellis with his hands up in the air in a surrender position as Burbank shot a Taser at Ellis’ chest and Collins wrapped an arm around his neck from behind.
The video also caught Ellis addressing the officers as "sir" as he told them repeatedly he couldn't breathe.
MURDER TRIAL INVOLVING 3 WA POLICE OFFICERS MOVES FORWARD WITH TESTIMONIES
Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards called for the officers to be fired in June 2020.
"The officers who committed this crime should be fired and prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Mayor Victoria Woodards said in a statement aired live on Tacoma TV and Facebook. "I am demanding tonight that the Pierce County Sheriff review and confirm every action taken by each officer."
On Wednesday, the jury in the trial told the judge they could not reach a unanimous decision, which could have led to a mistrial.
After hearing this, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Bryan Chushcoff sent the jury back and told them to keep trying to reach a verdict.
This is a developing story.
