Jury Selection Begins in Trial of Tacoma Police Officers Accused in Manny Ellis' Death

Jury selection kicked off this week in the trial of three Tacoma police officers facing charges related to the death of Manuel "Manny" Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man. The incident unfolded in March 2020, just two months before George Floyd's tragic encounter with the police.

The Defendants and Charges

The officers on trial are Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins, both white, charged with second-degree murder, and Timothy Rankine, an Asian American officer, facing first-degree manslaughter charges. All three officers have entered not guilty pleas.

What to Expect in the Trial

Jury selection is anticipated to span two weeks, with opening statements scheduled to commence on October 2nd at Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma. The trial is slated to run four days a week until December.

The Tragic Encounter

On the night of the incident, Ellis purchased doughnuts and water at a convenience store around 11:21 p.m. He then encountered Burbank and Collins in a patrol car across the street. According to the Washington Attorney General’s Office, Burbank and Collins claimed Ellis attempted to enter a stranger's car and attacked them when confronted. However, witnesses contradicted this account, stating that the officers leaped from their car and knocked Ellis to the ground.

Several onlookers recorded the incident with their cellphones, imploring the officers to stop. One video captured Burbank lifting Ellis into the air and slamming him onto the pavement, repeatedly striking him. Collins joined in, striking Ellis's head four times. Collins eventually applied a neck restraint, causing Ellis to lose consciousness.

The Grim Outcome

Ellis can be heard on a doorbell camera saying, "Can't breathe, sir. Can't breathe." One of the officers responded with a profanity-laden command to be silent. The officers then restrained Ellis in a "hog-tie" position, attaching a hobble restraint device to his legs and handcuffs, while also covering his head with a spit hood. Tragically, Ellis ceased moving after the hobble was applied and was pronounced dead at the scene.

All three witnesses confirmed that Ellis did not resist during the altercation, refuting the officers' claims.

The Family's Response

The Ellis family released a statement through their legal representatives, expressing hope that the trial would bring truth and justice. They vehemently rejected attempts to vilify Manny Ellis, emphasizing their belief that he was tortured to death.

Defense Claims and Medical Examiner's Findings

The officers' defense argued that Ellis resisted arrest, justifying the use of force. Meanwhile, the Pierce County Medical Examiner cited "hypoxia," a lack of oxygen due to physical restraint, as the cause of death, classifying it as a homicide.

The Legal Process

The initial investigation by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office was handed over to the Washington State Patrol and the Attorney General's Office after revelations of sheriff's personnel involvement. Charges were filed in May 2021, marking a historic moment as it was the first time the attorney general's office charged a law enforcement officer with murder in Washington state, following the removal of the malice requirement by Initiative 940 in 2018.

Ongoing Legal Action and Settlement

In 2022, Ellis' family reached a $4 million settlement agreement with the county, concluding its involvement. However, the family continues its wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Tacoma.

The trial is now underway, with the hope that it will shed light on the events that transpired on that fateful night in March 2020 and deliver justice for Manny Ellis.