Medical Examiner Rules Manuel Ellis' Death Homicide

TACOMA, WA — On March 3, Manuel Ellis died while being restrained by Tacoma Police Officers. Now, three months after his death, the Pierce County Medical Examiner has determined that he died because of the way the officers restrained him, and ruled his death a homicide.

Their findings officially indicate that Ellis died of "respiratory arrest due to hypoxia due to physical restraint," but note that methamphetamine in Ellis's system was a significant factor as well. Hypoxia is when a portion of the body is denied oxygen, and many have noted the similarity between Ellis' death due to lack of oxygen and the death of George Floyd, another black man killed while being restrained by police and whose death has sparked a series of mass protests across America.

According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Ellis was an openly struggling addict. At the time of his death, the officers involved claimed that Ellis had been delirious, banging on their car and trying to attack them. They say they restrained Ellis in an attempt to calm him down.

The investigation into Ellis' death has been passed to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, who will make the ultimate call whether the four officers at the scene will see charges. All four were placed on administrative leave after Ellis' death. In the months since they had returned to work, but were put on leave again when the Medical Examiner made the ruling Wednesday morning.

The Tacoma Police Department has identified the four involved officers as 34-year-old Christopher Burbank, 37-year-old Matthew Collins, 28-year-old Masyih Ford, and 31-year-old Timothy Rankine. The department says officers Burbank and Collins are white, Ford is black and Rankine is Asian. Collins had been with the department for around 5 years. Rankine had been on the force the shortest, about a year and 10 months.

While deputies investigate, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards has issued a statement on Wednesday saying she shares the grief that Ellis' family and community have over his death:

We pause amidst our struggle with the current public health and economic crisis, as well as the flood of emotions stirred up by the tragic and unacceptable death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and reflect on the grief and sadness of Manuel Ellis’ family and loved ones.

We pause and share their grief, because every loss of life matters.

I cannot imagine the pain that continues with the Ellis family’s loss, but I do know that our community wants both answers and justice. And so do we.

The mayor continues, saying that she looks forward to seeing the Sheriff's Department complete their investigation, and promising to take appropriate steps based on their findings.

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Inslee echoed Woodwards' statement, calling for a full investigation into Ellis' death.

"I know finding out the full circumstances of that event is a top priority for her, and it is a top priority for me," said Inslee. "We will be pushing to make sure there is a full and complete investigation."

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up in Ellis' memory by his sister and Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County. On the website, his sister describes Ellis as a man who had lived through a difficult childhood, but who had found purpose through religion and who was "continuing to grow in the fullness of his potential." He leaves behind a son and daughter. Campaign organizers say the money the GoFundMe raises will be used to support his family, pay the legal fees surrounding Ellis' death and create a foundation in his name to raise awareness.

Learn more about the GoFundMe on its website here.

Read the full statement from the mayor here.

Read more about Ellis' death from the Tacoma News Tribune here.