Current:Home > ContactJury hears testimony in trial of officers charged in Manuel Ellis' death -Secure Growth Academy
Jury hears testimony in trial of officers charged in Manuel Ellis' death
View
Date:2025-04-19 06:45:35
A jury heard testimony in the trial of three Tacoma police officers charged in the 2020 death of Manuel "Manny" Ellis, who said he couldn't breathe during the fatal encounter.
Ellis, an unarmed Black man, was restrained by three police officers in Washington state on March 3, 2020, and a medical examiner ruled the cause of death as a homicide.
In a video of the incident that went viral, Ellis, a 33-year-old father, can be heard saying, "Can't breathe, sir, can't breathe," while being pinned down.
Washington Assistant Attorney General Kent Liu recalled those words to the jury Tuesday when he began his opening statement, describing what he referred to as Ellis' last known words. Liu said officers repeatedly hit Ellis and put him in a spit hood. He was also tased three times, according to a probable cause statement.
In 2021, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed felony charges against officers Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins, and Timothy Rankine. Burbank and Collins were charged with second-degree murder and Rankine was charged with first-degree manslaughter. All three have pleaded not guilty and the defense claimed drugs found in Ellis' system may have contributed to his death instead.
On Wednesday, Grant Fredericks, a forensic video analyst, continued his testimony from Tuesday. He analyzed video from the incident and walked the jury through footage of the altercation. The prosecution in part focused on where Ellis had his hands when officers tased him for the first time.
Fredericks testified that less than two seconds after footage showed Ellis with his palms out, the taser was activated.
MORE: 2 officers involved in Manuel Ellis' fatal arrest return to duty
In his opening statement on Tuesday, Burbank's attorney Brett Purtzer said Ellis came to the passenger side of the police patrol car, which Burbank and Collins were in, and told Burbank while using an expletive that he ought to punch him in the face. Ellis also beat on the window, Purtzer claimed.
To distract Ellis from Collins who exited the vehicle, Burbank opened the passenger door, but the attempted distraction didn't work and Ellis threw Collins "to the ground with superhuman strength," Purtzer alleged.
Liu told the jury that eyewitnesses would tell them that someone from the patrol car got Ellis' attention and he walked to the vehicle's passenger side. Those witnesses saw a brief conversation take place, Ellis walking away and the passenger door swinging open, knocking Ellis to the ground, Liu said. Witnesses also saw officers jump out of the car and start attacking Ellis.
They "will tell you … Mr. Ellis was not aggressive, was not violent, never attacked the officers," Liu told the jury. "In fact, it was the officers that [were] attacking Mr. Ellis."
Anne Bremner, the attorney for Rankine, who arrived later at the scene and applied pressure to Ellis' back, according to a probable cause statement, told ABC News in a statement Thursday morning that her client "responded to an emergent situation to assist other officers. He followed his training helping to bring Mr. Ellis into custody. The evidence will show his acts were undertaken in conformity with proper protocols, with care and attention to Mr. Ellis' condition."
"Mr. Ellis, however, had significant medical and physiological issues, including an extreme concentration of methamphetamine in his blood," she continued. "The conditions, combined with his lengthy physical struggle with the officers, led to his demise. Officer Rankine welcomes the opportunity to provide the jurors with the truth surrounding the incident."
The county medical examiner ruled Ellis' death as a homicide due to "hypoxia due to physical restraint." Although blood collected from Ellis showed the presence of methamphetamine, the medical examiner said his death was not likely caused by methamphetamine intoxication, according to the probable cause statement.
MORE: Police in Ohio release body camera video showing officer fatally shooting pregnant woman Ta'Kiya Young
The Tacoma police union said in 2021 that these charges appear to be a "politically motivated witch hunt."
The Tacoma police union told ABC News in a statement Thursday that while they did not want to appear as though they were trying to "influence the court in anyway during trial," they still maintained their stance.
"We certainly maintain our support for these officers and have not changed our beliefs on why they are charged," Henry Betts, Tacoma Police Union Local #6 President, said.
When ABC News asked Purtzer for a comment on the trial from him or Burbank, Purtzer said they didn't have anything to say. ABC News also reached out to Collins' attorney.
ABC News' Morgan Windsor and Kiara Alfonseca contributed to this report.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Nellie Biles talks reaction to Simone Biles' calf tweak, pride in watching her at Olympics
- Starter homes are worth $1 million in 237 U.S. cities. See where they're located.
- Houston Texans lineman Denico Autry suspended six games for violating NFL's PED policy
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Back-to-back meteor showers this week How to watch Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids
- How a small South Dakota college became a national cyber powerhouse
- US regulators OK North Carolina Medicaid carrot to hospitals to eliminate patient debt
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Justin Bieber Cradles Pregnant Hailey Bieber’s Baby Bump in New Video
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Video shows a vortex of smoke amid wildfire. Was it a fire tornado?
- The oddball platypus is in trouble. Researchers have a plan to help.
- Noah Lyles doubles down on belief he’s fastest man in the world: 'It's me'
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- USWNT's future is now as Big Three produce big results at Paris Olympics
- McDonald’s same-store sales fall for the 1st time since the pandemic, profit slides 12%
- All the best Comic-Con highlights, from Robert Downey Jr.'s Marvel return to 'The Boys'
Recommendation
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
Independent candidate who tried to recall Burgum makes ballot for North Dakota governor
3-year-old dies after falling from 8th-floor window in Kansas City suburb
Bachelor Nation’s Victoria Fuller Dating NFL Star Will Levis After Greg Grippo Breakup
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
‘White Dudes for Harris’ is the latest in a series of Zoom gatherings backing the vice president
'Lord of the Rings' exclusive: See how Ents, creatures come alive in 'Rings of Power'
Not All Companies Disclose Emissions From Their Investments, and That’s a Problem for Investors