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Live Updates: 3 Tacoma officers charged in death of Manny Ellis now booked into jail

By The News Tribune

Updated February 24, 2022 10:48 AM

The police death of Manuel Ellis

More than a year after Manuel Ellis died in police custody, the attorney general charged three officers in his death.

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Here is the latest information gathered by The News Tribune on the case of Manuel Ellis, who died at the hands of Tacoma police in March 2020.

Tacoma police officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins were charged Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Timothy Rankine was charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Three Tacoma police officers booked into jail

5:32 p.m. - Tacoma police officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins have been booked into jail on charges connected to the death of Manuel Ellis.

Burbank was booked at 3:38 p.m. for investigation of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, according to jail records.

Collins was booked about 4:12 p.m. on the same counts.

Both are scheduled to be arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court on Friday morning.

Officer Timothy Rankine, who is charged with first-degree manslaughter, was booked at 6:08 p.m.

All three turned themselves in, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Tacoma Action Collective’s statement on Manuel Ellis charging decision

4:15 p.m. - The Tacoma Action Collective, which advocates for Tacoma’s Black community and rallied around Ellis’ family after his death, issued a statement this afternoon, which reads in part:

“Charging officers Burbank and Collins with second degree murder, first degree manslaughter, and second & third degree assault, as well as charging officer Rankine with first degree manslaughter, is just a start.

The family of Manuel Ellis has waited 450 days. Before they had an answer, before they could allow themselves to grieve, they had to wait 450 days. In no circumstance is this acceptable. We will not celebrate that the Washington State Attorney General’s office decided to do the ‘right thing’. We will not celebrate the fact that there might be consequences for police officers who murdered a Black person who was simply walking home. We will not celebrate taking 450 days to tell us if Manuel Ellis’ life mattered.

Instead, we will celebrate Monèt Carter-Mixon, Manny’s sister, for not being silent. Had she not challenged the “excited delirium” story, we would have never known what happened. Witnesses would not have come forward. We wouldn’t have gone to Olympia to demand an independent investigation. The governor’s task force for Independent Investigations wouldn’t have convened and HB1267 would never have been passed. Let us be clear: Manuel Ellis did not give his life for the possibility of police accountability in Washington State. He is not a Martyr. He was murdered. His life was stolen.”

You can read the full statement here.

Tacoma mayor, city manager, police chief to make live statements

At 2 p.m. Mayor Victoria Woodards will be joined by City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and Interim Police Chief Mike Ake to make statements on the Manuel Ellis case. They will not be taking media questions at this time. You can watch below:

Tacoma City Council statement regarding charging decision

1:15 p.m. - “Today, our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Manuel Ellis. They have had to endure the heartbreaking loss of their son, brother, father and friend. They are working to process that the Attorney General’s Office has filed felony charges in Pierce County Superior Court, who will serve as the prosecutor in these cases, against three Tacoma Police Department officers involved in the death of Manuel Ellis. According to the Attorney General’s Office, this is the first time they have criminally charged police officers for the unlawful use of deadly force, and just the second time homicide charges have been filed in Washington against law enforcement officers since Washingtonians adopted Initiative 940 in November 2018.The length of time this investigation has taken has weighed heavily on us all, and we are grieved by what the family and loved ones of Manuel Ellis have been through this past year. What has come into sharp focus at this point, in the history of our city and our nation, is that the current culture of law enforcement needs to evolve. It must, if we are to meet the needs of community members that we, as policy makers, are sworn to serve.

Over the past year – in collaboration with our community members to include the Community Police Advisory Committee, the Heal the Heart Core Coordinating Team and countless others – the City initiated measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again in Tacoma. Together, we have equipped Tacoma police officers with body cameras, reworked Tacoma police policies to include implementation of “8 Can’t Wait” police reform strategies, and evaluated how the City deploys its resources to best transform public safety in a way that matches what our community envisions for a Tacoma that is its very best version of itself.

We passed Resolution 40622 in June 2020 to formally acknowledge that the City’s existing systems have not adequately served the needs of everyone in our community and, in particular, those of Black community members and other community members of color.

While the challenges of the past year have tested our community’s resolve, many people have continued to do the difficult and emotionally demanding work that is required to drive our beloved city forward, knowing that true reform does not come easily or quickly.

We are tremendously proud of our Tacoma community for their commitment and dedication to this issue, as well as those who serve with honor in our Tacoma Police Department, for having the courage to continue showing up over the past year and working hard to take a critical look at the City policies, practices and systems that were in place the night of Manuel Ellis’ death. This tragedy is not only a turning point for police reform in Tacoma, but across our state and nation. We, as a community, are resolute to enact changes in policing. No one should fear law enforcement or die in police custody.

We encourage every community member to remain engaged, challenge us with hard questions, and continue to hold us accountable as we work to achieve the lasting systemic change we all hope to see in Tacoma going forward. This is an important turning point for Tacoma. The City is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Tacoma’s community members every step of the way.”

Family of Manuel Ellis schedules news conference

The family of Manuel Ellis will have a news conference at 3 p.m. Thursday to discuss their reaction to the state’s decision on charges in Ellis’ death.

At the news conference in Tacoma will be members of Ellis’ family, along with the family’s attorney, James Bible.

Details on how to watch it live are here.

Tacoma police union calls charges ‘politically motivated’

12:35 p.m. - Tacoma police union Local 6 issued this statement:

“We are disappointed that facts were ignored in favor of what appears to be a politically motivated witch hunt. We look forward to trial. An unbiased jury will find that the officers broke no laws and, in fact, acted in accordance with the law, their training, and Tacoma Police Department policies. An unbiased jury will not allow these fine public servants to be sacrificed at the altar of public sentiment. Like every community member, our officers are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Pierce County Council releases statement on Manny Ellis’ death investigation

12:10 p.m. - “In response to today’s charging announcement by the Attorney General’s Office in the death investigation of Manuel Ellis, the Pierce County Council restates its commitment to see law and justice practiced equitably across the county.

Pierce County has a complex history that includes efforts to achieve greater justice, equality, and understanding among all residents, as well as times when we have fallen short of our values.

We will face challenges as they come and remain focused on the work—including listening and learning—to develop innovative policies, programs, and services providing every Pierce County resident a better future.

As outlined by the Council last summer in our call for a thorough review of the county’s law and justice systems, we value inclusivity and are committed to transparent, open dialogue to achieve those goals.”

Gov. Jay Inslee releases statement after charges filed in death of Manny Ellis

11:09 - “I thank Attorney General Bob Ferguson and his office for a comprehensive investigation into the death of Manuel Ellis last year in Tacoma.

“In June, I called for a new investigation and for the attorney general to make a charging decision in the case, as it was clear to me that those needed to be made independent from Pierce County law enforcement. The resulting charging decision that was made today by Attorney General Bob Ferguson is the result of that investigation. This decision is within the authority of the attorney general’s office and I look forward to a full briefing on their findings.

“This is the first step in our system of justice.

“This year, I signed more than 12 bills creating the most comprehensive police accountability laws in the nation. It is my fervent hope that we can avoid future incidents and deaths.

“We must remain proactive – from those of us in elected office to those providing services in our communities – to turn the tide of injustice. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice,’ and it takes all of us to usher it into existence.”

Three Tacoma police officers charged in death of Manny Ellis

11:02 a.m. - Three Tacoma police officers have been criminally charged for the death of Manuel Ellis, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Thursday.

Arrest warrants have been issued for the three officers, who have been on paid administrative leave since June 3.

If convicted on both charges, Burbank and Collins could serve life in prison. Rankine is facing 6-1/2 to 8-1/2 years in prison.

Complete story on the charges can be found here.

Manny Ellis was more than a victim

Manuel Ellis is largely known for his death at the hands of Tacoma police.

Before his name became a rallying cry across the state for those fighting for racial equality and against police brutality, Ellis lived a life marred by hardships but filled with love. It was a life he was straightening out in the months before his death March 3, 2020, family and friends say.

The 33-year-old Black man grew up in the Tacoma area with an older brother and younger sister. He attended Wilson High School and dreamed of becoming a professional musician.

Ellis started playing the drums when he was 3 and was skilled at the piano and keyboard. His favorite was jazz, but he had a fondness for soul and hip hop as well.

“My brother was musically talented,” said his sister, Monet Carter-Mixon. “He could pick up an instrument and play it.”

Profile of Manny Ellis continued here.

The Tacoma police charged with killing Ellis

Five Tacoma police officers were involved in the death of Manuel Ellis, whose name has become a rallying cry against police brutality in Washington state.

Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, died March 3, 2020, while being restrained by officers after a violent minutes-long struggle at the corner of of 96th Street South and Ainsworth Avenue.

He died from lack of oxygen, with methamphetamine and heart disease listed as contributing factors.

The Washington Attorney General filed felony charges Thursday, May 27 against three Tacoma police officers. Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins were charged with second-degree murder and Timothy Rankine with first-degree manslaughter.

Video surfaced months after Ellis’ death, capturing him saying “I can’t breathe, sir, I can’t breathe,” shortly before losing consciousness.

All five officers remain on paid administrative leave.

More on the Tacoma police officers here.