Former Tacoma Police Department officer Timothy Rankine, who was acquitted of manslaughter charges in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who was shocked, beaten and held facedown on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath, has filed multimillion-dollar claims against local and state officials alleging defamation. Rankine, who is Asian American, is seeking $47 million in damages, claiming he was falsely accused of criminal and racist misconduct. He testified that he pressed down on Ellis’ back despite Ellis saying he couldn’t breathe.
Rankine and his wife, Katherine Chinn, assert that Attorney General Bob Ferguson, his staff, elected officials in Tacoma, and city employees defamed him by falsely accusing him of criminal misconduct, claiming the accusations were politically motivated. The city of Tacoma and the Attorney General’s Office did not provide comments on the claims, stating they first go to the State Office of Risk Management for resolution. Rankine and his co-defendants received $500,000 each to leave the Tacoma Police Department this year, with Rankine expressing a desire to return to law enforcement but feeling he has been blackballed.
Rankine and two other officers, Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins, were cleared of criminal charges by a Pierce County jury last December. Burbank was hired as a patrol deputy in a neighboring county but resigned days later due to community objections. The officers had been charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder, with their attorneys arguing that Ellis died from a lethal amount of methamphetamine and a heart condition, not from the officers’ actions. The Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled Ellis’ death a homicide due to a lack of oxygen during physical restraint.
Ellis, 33, was walking home with doughnuts when he encountered the officers in a patrol car. Witnesses testified that Ellis did not display aggression, contradicting the officers’ accounts. Video footage captured parts of the encounter, showing Ellis surrendering with his hands up before being tased and restrained. Despite Ellis pleading for breath while handcuffed facedown, Rankine knelt on his back. Ellis’ death is being reviewed by the Department of Justice for civil rights violations, and state officials are determining whether to revoke the officers’ certifications. A federal lawsuit from Ellis’ family against the city and officers is still pending.
The death of Manuel Ellis and the subsequent actions of the officers involved have sparked controversy and legal proceedings. With Rankine now filing defamation claims against local and state officials, the case continues to highlight issues of race, police accountability, and the use of force in law enforcement. The outcome of the ongoing investigations and lawsuits will be pivotal in determining accountability and justice for Ellis and his family, as well as setting precedents for future cases involving police misconduct and racial violence. As the community grapples with the aftermath of Ellis’ tragic death, the fight for justice and accountability remains at the forefront of public discourse in Tacoma and beyond.
