Killing of Manuel Ellis

Manuel Ellis was a 33 year old musician at his church, and had two children: an 11-year old son and an 18-month old daughter.[3][4][2] Ellis was black.[2] Ellis' family have said Ellis struggled with addiction and mental health.[5] According to a lawyer for the family, Ellis was walking home after playing drums that evening at his church.[6] He reportedly called his mother, brother and sister separately after leaving the Church.[7] Ellis' mother stated that she spoke with him about a half an hour before his arrest and death.[8] [9]

According to the Tacoma Police Department, four officers arrested Ellis, two being white, one black, and one Asian.[1]

Police initially stated that Ellis had begun a confrontation by striking a police car, attacking four officers and throwing one officer to the ground.[6][1] According to police, they had seen Ellis trying to open the doors of cars with people inside them.[10]

A witness, who observed the encounter from a car behind Ellis and the officers, said that Ellis approached their police car and appeared to be engaged in what she thought was a friendly conversation with them.[2][1] Then, the witness said, the officers threw open their door, knocking Ellis to the ground.[1] The witness began taking video footage, which shows officers punching Ellis while he is on the ground. In one video the witness can be heard calling "Stop. Oh my God, stop hitting him. Just arrest him."[1]

According to a lawyer representing the Ellis family, Ellis was also tased, contradicting earlier police statements that they did not, and police officers placed themselves on top of Ellis.[2] A detective for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said that Ellis called out "I can't breathe," and that officers requested the help of paramedics and placed Ellis on his side.[1] Police dispatch audio records Ellis shouting "I can't breathe", and police requesting medical help minutes later.[10]

The Pierce County medical examiner ruled that Ellis' death was a homicide, resulting from hypoxia due to physical restraint.[1] The medical examiner also noted that other factors could have further contributed to Ellis' death, including methamphetamines, body position, heart disease and a mask officers had placed over Ellis' mouth meant to stop spitting or biting.[1]

The officers involved in Ellis' death were initially placed on administrative leave, but then were returned to work after the police department ruled no violation of policy.[1]

After the release of witness videos, Tacoma mayor Victoria Woodards requested that all officers involved in Ellis' death be fired and prosecuted. The officers were again placed on leave.[1] According to the police department the four officers involved include two white, one black and one Asian officer.[1] After the Tacoma city council sent a letter requesting an independent review of Ellis' death to Washington governor Jay Inslee,[4] the governor said that the state would conduct an independent investigation.[2]

Boarded up shop window at a George Floyd protest in Burbank, California, June 4, 2020

Members of the Ellis family and officials from the NAACP stated that they wanted more information on Ellis' death and reform, criticizing "flashy words" from politicians.[9]

The Tacoma Police Union objected to calls for the prosecution of the officers involved, saying that video evidence was inadequate and adding "This is not a time to sacrifice dedicated public servants at the altar of public sentiment."[8][10] In their statement, the union condemned the killing of George Floyd.[10]

A vigil was held for Ellis in Tacoma on June 3.[8]

• Human rights in the United States
• List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States
• Police brutality in the United States
• I can't breathe, phrase uttered by several African American men before being killed by police