Associated Press
TACOMA — The family of Tacoma man who died after being restrained by police in March is calling for the four officers involved to be fired and arrested after the Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide.
Investigators with the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death of Mannie Ellis, 33, was caused by respiratory arrest to hypoxia due to physical restraint — meaning he couldn’t breathe while being restrained. Contributing factors included methamphetamine intoxication and an enlarged-heart condition, KOMO-TV reported.
Tacoma officers contacted Ellis before 11:30 p.m. on March 3 after he was punching the window of a car, according to Detective Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading an investigation into the death. Two Tacoma police officers asked Ellis if he needed help, according to police. Ellis told officers he had warrants, police said.
When one officer got out of the car to talk, Ellis picked up the officer by the vest and slam-dunked him to the ground, prompting the second officer to physically restrain Ellis to detain him, Troyer said.
Once Ellis was in custody, he complained about not being able to breathe, officials said. Medics were called, but Ellis died at the scene.
Hundreds joined his family Wednesday night at a vigil and protest in Tacoma after learning of the autopsy results.
Tacoma Police identified the officers involved as: Christopher Burbank, 34; Matthew Collins, 37; Masyih Ford, 28; and Timothy Rankine, 31. Two of the officers are white, one is black and one is Asian, according to Tacoma police.
They are on administrative leave in light of the autopsy report, police said.
“I’m amplifying my brother’s mouth from his grave,” his sister Monet Carter-Mixon said at the vigil. “He’s still screaming, ‘Sis, go get ’em, sis. Don’t let up sis.’”
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