The family of Manny Ellis will file $30 million lawsuit against Tacoma over wrongful death
The family of Manny Ellis announced Friday they are filing a lawsuit against the City of Tacoma for $30 million.
Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, died while being restrained by Tacoma police officers March 3. His death was ruled a homicide by the Pierce County Medical Examiner.
The announcement comes on what would have been Ellis’ 34th birthday.
“We would have partied. We would have had barbecue,” Ellis’ mother, Marcia Carter, said.
She blamed government officials, including Gov. Jay Inslee, for delaying justice in her son’s death.
“Why? Because they’re all white folks sitting in their little cushy ass jobs and they don’t want to do the right thing (for) my Black, African American son,” she said. “When is this going to change?”
The family’s attorney, James Bible, said text messages between officers showed a lack of concern over Ellis’ death. He also cited videos and witnesses to the incident that support the family’s contention that Ellis was murdered.
Each witness and each video provides a different perspective, all of which leads to the same conclusion, Bible said.
“But what concretely rings through all of this, as everybody said, this just was not justifiable,” Bible said. “That Manny Ellis wasn’t attacking anybody.”
If the four involved officers had been citizens, Bible said, they would have been charged within 48 hours.
“This is a painful moment for the Manny Ellis family and we’re here to tell you that this is part of a pattern and practice with the City of Tacoma police department,” Bible said.
“We can’t stand idly by while human beings are murdered repeatedly by police officers,” he said.
“I haven’t heard from anyone,” Carter said. She called on one of the officers involved, Masyih Ford, to come forward. Carter said she was friends with him before her son’s death.
“Do the right thing,” she said. “You love God, as we do, as I do.”
“We want these officers to come forward and have to speak,” Bible said. “All of them should apologize. But there needs to be public accountability.”
All of the officers will be named in the suit, Bible said. It’s also possible that Pierce County will be added to the lawsuit. A sheriff’s deputy was at the scene of Ellis’ death.
“Pierce County has remained silent in relation to who that individual officer is,” Bible said.
Ellis died at the intersection of 96th Street South and Ainsworth Avenue as he returned home from buying a snack.
Police say Ellis was trying to open doors of occupied vehicles and pounded on a patrol car.
He allegedly attacked an officer, and there was a struggle until police managed to handcuff him on the ground.
In an audio recording of the incident, Ellis can be heard saying, “I can’t breathe, sir.”
Although paramedics performed CPR for 40 minutes, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In May, medical examiners ruled his death a homicide and said the physical restraint used caused his death, although methamphetamine intoxication and heart disease contributed.
Ford and the other three officers involved in Ellis’ death, Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine, are on leave.
Bible said charges against the officers are long overdue.
“This was murder,” he said.
“Litigation will start and we will continue to push for prosecution because that is what is absolutely necessary when somebody is murdered, especially when it’s by your government,” Bible said.
Ellis’ mother just wants justice.
“I don’t cry no more,” she said. “I’m just angry.”
Late Friday, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards and City Manager Elizabeth Pauli released a statement.
“We cannot begin to fathom the deep pain of the Ellis family on the 34th birthday of their son, brother, and father,” the statement read. “We understand the frustration that the family expressed and share their desire for a thorough independent investigation that is completed as swiftly as possible. We join them in their call for a state agency that will provide independent investigations for future cases, and we will continue to advocate for the establishment of this agency.”
The statement urged any witnesses to Ellis’ death to come forward.
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 2:52 PM.
