A jury has acquitted three Washington state police officers, Matthew Collins, Christopher Burbank, and Timothy Rankine, of all charges in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis. Ellis, a Black man, died after being shocked, beaten, and restrained face-down on a Tacoma sidewalk. The controversial verdict follows claims that Ellis died from methamphetamine and a preexisting heart condition, not the officers’ actions. The decision has ignited community outrage and reignited discussions about police accountability.
Contested Testimonies and Shocking Acquittals
The jury found Collins and Burbank, charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, along with Rankine, charged with manslaughter, not guilty on all counts. Gasps filled the gallery as the verdict was read, leaving Ellis’s family and the community devastated.
Defense attorneys argued that Ellis’s past arrests unfairly influenced the jury, diverting attention from the officers’ actions. The case has raised concerns about the impact of past behaviors on trial outcomes.
Ellis’s death became a symbol for racial justice protests, but the trial’s outcome underscores challenges in holding law enforcement accountable.
Community Outcry and Ongoing Investigations
The verdict prompted a crowd, including Ellis’s family, to gather near a mural in Tacoma, expressing their frustration with chants of “No justice, no peace.” A vigil at the mural drew around 100 people in the evening.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson expressed gratitude for the legal team but acknowledged the Ellis family’s pain. The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability criticized the verdict, calling it proof of a broken system.
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