A protester holds a sign that reads “Justice for Manny” in this June 5, 2020 file photo in Tacoma, Wash., during a protest against police brutality. On Thursday, May 27, 2021, the Washington state attorney general filed criminal charges against three police officers in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died after telling the Tacoma officers who were restraining him he couldn’t breathe.
AP
SEATTLE The Washington state attorney general on Thursday charged two Tacoma police officers with murder and one with manslaughter in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died after repeatedly telling them he couldn’t breathe as he was being restrained.
Washington state attorney general filed charges of second-degree murder against Tacoma cops Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins
Third officer Timothy Rankine faces charge of first-degree manslaughter
All three are accused of causing the death of Manuel Ellis, 33, by restraining him during March 2020 arrest
Ellis was heard on surveillance video telling officers, I can t breathe
Ellis, a father of two, died of oxygen deprivation and his death was ruled a homicide
He had been pinned to the ground by cops and had a spit hood put over his head as he walked home from a convenience store with a snack
Tacoma police said they spotted him trying to get inside a car and that they restrained him when he violently threw one of the cops to the ground
Murder charges filed against officers in Manuel Ellis’ death in Tacoma By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press
Published: May 27, 2021, 3:30pm
Share: Jeremy Dashiell visits a mural honoring Manuel Ellis in Tacoma. (Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times/TNS)
SEATTLE The Washington attorney general on Thursday charged two Tacoma police officers with murder and one with manslaughter in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died after telling them he couldn’t breathe as he was being restrained.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed charges of second-degree murder against Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins, and first-degree manslaughter against Timothy Rankine.
Witnesses reported seeing Burbank and Collins attack Ellis without provocation, according to a probable cause statement filed in Pierce County Superior Court, and Rankine is accused of putting pressure on Ellis’ back as the man said he couldn’t breathe.
UpdatedThu, May 27, 2021 at 1:22 pm PT
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Candles and signs are seen during a vigil for Manuel Ellis on June 3, 2020, near the site of his death in Tacoma, Washington (David Ryder/Getty Images)
TACOMA, WA Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed felony charges against three Tacoma police officers in connection with the killing of Manuel Ellis.
The attorney general on Thursday announced that officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins are being charged with second-degree murder. If convicted, both could be sentenced to between 10 and 18 years in prison.
The third officer, Timothy Rankine, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, which typically results in sentences between 6.5 and 8.5 years in prison if the defendant has no prior criminal history.