The death of Manny Ellis in 2020 while in Tacoma police custody has led to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed by one of the officers involved, who was acquitted of criminal charges. Ellis, a black man, was subjected to shock, beating, and held facedown on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath before ultimately dying. Former Tacoma police officer Timothy Rankine testified during a trial that he held Ellis down on his back while the officers’ attorneys argued that Ellis died from a lethal amount of methamphetamine and a heart condition, not from the officers’ actions. The Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by a lack of oxygen during the physical restraint.
Rankine, an Asian American officer, was cleared of first-degree manslaughter but claims his reputation was destroyed during the trial. A doorbell surveillance camera recorded parts of the incident showing Ellis with his hands up in a surrender position as he was shot with a Taser and held by the officers. Rankine alleges that his prosecution was politically motivated and led to threats against his family, seeking $47 million in damages alongside his wife. The city of Tacoma has not commented on the pending litigation, while Ellis’ death is also under review by the Department of Justice for civil rights violations and state officials are investigating whether to revoke the officers’ certifications.
The two other officers involved in Ellis’ death, Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank, were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Rankine, Collins, and Burbank agreed to resign from the department in January in exchange for $500,000 each, as Rankine’s attorney claimed the compensation barely covered what he lost during the trial. The federal lawsuit from Ellis’ family is still pending against the city and the officers, while the family settled for $4 million with Pierce County, which first investigated Ellis’ death. The video of the incident captured Ellis addressing the officers as “sir” and repeatedly stating that he couldn’t breathe, leading to public outrage and calls for accountability.
The acquittal of the police officers in Ellis’ death case has sparked further controversy, with Rankine now filing a lawsuit against city and state officials alleging false accusations of criminal and racial misconduct. Rankine’s defense during the trial focused on the claim that Ellis’ death was due to drugs and a heart condition, not the officers’ actions, although the medical examiner ruled it a homicide caused by a lack of oxygen during physical restraint. The former officer argues that his prosecution was politically motivated and resulted in threats against his family, seeking significant damages in response. The ongoing investigations from the Department of Justice for civil rights violations and state officials considering the revocation of the officers’ certifications further highlight the unresolved issues surrounding Ellis’ tragic death.
The case of Manny Ellis’ death while in Tacoma police custody continues to raise questions about accountability and justice within law enforcement. The acquittal of the officers involved, with Rankine now seeking millions in damages, underscores the complexities of navigating issues of race, excessive force, and criminal misconduct within the criminal justice system. The public outrage and calls for transparency following the release of the video footage depicting Ellis’ final moments, pleading for breath and showing no signs of aggression, point to the need for systemic change and reform within police departments. The ongoing federal lawsuit from Ellis’ family and investigations by the Department of Justice and state officials indicate that the repercussions of this case will be felt for years to come, shaping conversations around accountability and reform in law enforcement practices. Ultimately, the tragic death of Manny Ellis serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and equity in policing, highlighting the systemic issues that continue to plague communities across the country.
