Justice Unveiled: Witness Testifies in Trial of Tacoma Police Officers
In March 2020, a fateful event unfolded on the streets of Tacoma, Washington. A Black man named Manuel Ellis lost his life in a violent encounter with three Tacoma police officers. The officers in question, Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins, and Timothy Rankine, now find themselves facing charges related to Ellis’s tragic demise.
During the ongoing trial, a crucial witness stepped forward. Keyon Lowery, 26 years old, recounted a story that challenges the officers’ version of events. He revealed that Ellis did not display aggression towards the officers, nor did he resist. In Lowery’s words, Ellis posed “no threat at all.”
Lowery expressed his disbelief at the officers’ actions, firmly asserting that they were in the wrong. Two of the accused officers, Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank, both of white ethnicity, face charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter. Officer Timothy Rankine, who is of Asian American descent, is charged with manslaughter. All three officers have pleaded not guilty and remain on paid leave from the Tacoma Police Department.
The tragic incident took place on March 3, 2020, and was later ruled a homicide by the Pierce County Medical Examiner. The cause of death was attributed to a lack of oxygen resulting from physical restraint. Throughout the ordeal, Ellis repeatedly pleaded that he couldn’t breathe, even as force continued to be applied. Lawyers for the officers have suggested a drug overdose as an alternative explanation for Ellis’s passing, noting the presence of methamphetamine in his system.
This case unfolded in the shadow of another tragic event – the death of George Floyd, whose encounter with a white Minneapolis police officer ignited a nationwide conversation about race and policing.
In this trial, Keyon Lowery emerged as a significant witness, alongside Sara McDowell, who recorded a cellphone video of the incident. Both played pivotal roles in shedding light on how the confrontation between Ellis and the officers began.
The officers’ defense has revolved around the point of origin for the struggle, especially for Collins and Burbank, who initially encountered Ellis. The absence of video footage depicting the initial moments of the incident has been a focal point in their defense.
Lowery’s account contradicted the officers’ statements. He revealed that Ellis was walking away from the police cruiser before an abrupt encounter. As Ellis approached, the passenger’s door of the cruiser struck him to the ground. Subsequently, Burbank was swift to engage with Ellis, allegedly delivering up to three punches. Collins also joined the scene, taking control of Ellis’s legs.
As Lowery left, it appeared that the officers had apprehended Ellis and were in control of the situation. McDowell, who also witnessed the incident, was expected to testify.
Notably, this trial marks the first under a new Washington state law that streamlines the prosecution of police officers for wrongful use of deadly force. The proceedings are slated to continue four days a week until December, as the quest for justice unfolds.