2 Tacoma officers charged with murder in death of Manuel Manny Ellis; 3rd officer charged with manslaughter
By Q13 News Staff
The criminal charges are historic in Washington state.
TACOMA, Wash. - Two Tacoma police officers have been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Manuel Manny Ellis and a third officer has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Thursday.
Officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins are charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Officer Timothy Rankine has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. There are warrants out for their arrests.
Officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Officer Timothy Rankine was charged with first-degree manslaughter.
UpdatedThu, May 27, 2021 at 1:22 pm PT
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Candles and signs are seen during a vigil for Manuel Ellis on June 3, 2020, near the site of his death in Tacoma, Washington (David Ryder/Getty Images)
TACOMA, WA Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed felony charges against three Tacoma police officers in connection with the killing of Manuel Ellis.
The attorney general on Thursday announced that officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins are being charged with second-degree murder. If convicted, both could be sentenced to between 10 and 18 years in prison.
The third officer, Timothy Rankine, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, which typically results in sentences between 6.5 and 8.5 years in prison if the defendant has no prior criminal history.
State AG’s office to announce charging decision in Manuel Ellis case KIRO 7 News Staff
The state Attorney General’s office will announce whether any Tacoma police officers will be charged in the death of Manuel Ellis on Thursday.
Ellis, 33, died in March of last year following an on-camera confrontation with police.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled Ellis’ death a homicide due to a lack of oxygen, and also determined methamphetamine and an enlarged heart also played a contributing role.
Ellis family attorney James Bible said at a February news conference that new information revealed Ellis was “hobbled” by five officers, and may have suffocated in handcuffs from the position of his body, while he told the officers “I can’t breathe.”