Unarmed Black Man Manuel Ellis' Death: Police Officers Acquitted by US Jury

Three police officers have been acquitted of all criminal charges in the death of Manuel Ellis, an unarmed black man who died while in police custody in 2020. The officers were accused of using deadly force during Mr. Ellis' arrest in Washington state. Video footage of the incident shows Mr. Ellis being beaten, restrained face down on the pavement, and pleading for help as he struggled to breathe. Defence attorneys argued that his death was caused by drugs and a pre-existing heart condition. This case gained significance as it occurred just months before the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests against racial injustice. The officers involved in the Ellis case, Matthew Collins, Christopher Burbank, and Timothy Rankine, were acquitted of charges that included second-degree murder and manslaughter. Mr. Ellis, a father of two, was walking home when officers saw him allegedly attempting to open a passing car door. The officers claimed Mr. Ellis became aggressive when confronted, but witnesses contradicted this account. Surveillance footage captured part of the incident, showing Mr. Ellis with his hands up as Officer Burbank shot a Taser at him. During the ordeal, Mr. Ellis complained about having difficulty breathing, but one of the officers responded dismissively. Prosecutors argued that the officers continued to restrain Mr. Ellis, using a spit hood on his head, until the Fire Department arrived. The local medical examiner determined that Mr. Ellis' death was a homicide resulting from oxygen deprivation, with his heart condition and methamphetamine use playing contributing roles. The defence argued that it was the combination of drugs and a heart problem that led to Mr. Ellis' death, stating that the methamphetamine made him violent and unpredictable. Wayne Fricke, representing Officer Burbank, claimed that Mr. Ellis brought about his own death through his behavior, which forced the officers to use force.