State to conduct independent review of Manuel Ellis death investigation, Inslee says
An independent review of Manuel Ellis’ homicide by Tacoma police will be done by state investigators, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday.
Earlier in the day, the Tacoma City Council voted to send Inslee a letter requesting the review after Ellis’ family demanded transparency and accountability.
“We know that Manuel Ellis was one of far, far too many black men who died while in police custody in America, including here in Washington state,” Inslee said in a statement. “Washingtonians deserve every assurance that investigations and charging decisions related to police shootings and deaths of people in police custody are handled with urgency, independence and commitment to justice.”
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating the incident since Ellis died March 3.
The department is expected to turn the case over to prosecutors next week, who will then determine if criminal charges are in order or if the four officers involved acted justifiably.
“We have no reason to doubt the work underway, and my decision does not in any way pre-judge an outcome, but the family of Mr. Ellis, the City of Tacoma and every Washington resident deserves the confidence that an extra level of scrutiny will bring,” Inslee said.
The Washington State Patrol will review the sheriff’s investigation, and the Attorney General’s Office will review the Pierce County prosecutor’s charging decision.
State attorneys will have the authority to make different charging decisions than local prosecutors.
Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett on Friday said she is disappointed in Inslee’s decision and wishes the Attorney General’s Office would review the investigation concurrently, rather than after her office.
“The obvious question is: Why wait?” she said in a statement.
Robnett pointed out that having state attorneys join her review means they would have the ability to ask questions of detectives and the Medical Examiner and could weigh in on the decision-making process.
“The structure of what has been suggested by the Governor looks like it sets up a Monday morning quarterbacking situation,” according to her statement. “That is not engaged leadership and it is not the way things should work in our criminal justice system.”
In a statement, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said she is grateful to the governor and wants to work with him to “seek ways we can forge lasting change in the justice system for the entire state of Washington.”
Inslee said he plans to present legislation no later than January that would include laws for independent investigations, require police “to intervene and report if they witness unlawful use of force by a fellow officer and examining the use of force - including restraint techniques,” Inslee said in his statement.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office determined last month that Ellis died of oxygen deprivation due to physical restraint, with contributing factors of methamphetamine intoxication and heart disease.
His death was ruled a homicide, which legally means he was killed by another person. It is not the same as murder. That is up for prosecutors to decide.
Investigators say Ellis was trying to open doors of occupied vehicles at the intersection of 96th Street South and Ainsworth Avenue when two officers encountered him.
He attacked the officers and struggled with them on the ground before they were able to handcuff him, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
On a police radio recording, Ellis can be heard saying, “Can’t breathe.”
Police called for medical aid at 11:26 p.m., four minutes after the encounter began.
Within a minute of firefighters arriving on scene, Ellis stopped breathing and lost consciousness.
Paramedics performed CPR for nearly 90 minutes, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ellis’ relatives do not believe he would have acted that way, and have accused the officers of murdering him.
The four officers involved in restraining Ellis have been identified as Christopher Burbank, 34; Matthew Collins, 37; Masyih Ford, 28; and Timothy Rankine, 31.
They were placed on administrative leave after the autopsy findings became public Wednesday.
Woodards late Thursday demanded City Manager Elizabeth Pauli fire the officers and called for them to be prosecuted.
The mayor was asked at a Friday news conference whether she still had confidence in Police Chief Don Ramsdell.
“Right now all of my energy is focused on the death of Manuel Ellis. The investigation into his death and making sure we act on the results of that investigation in the fairest, most transparent way possible,” Woodards said. “I want justice for everyone involved, and I’m keeping my eye on that prize.”
Ramsdell has not responded to requests for comment from The News Tribune.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 6:21 PM.
