MYNORTHWEST NEWS

2 Tacoma officers involved in death of Manuel Ellis exonerated following investigation

Dec 21, 2021, 11:43 AM | Updated: 3:51 pm

Manuel Ellis arrest, Tacoma police officers...

A protester holds a sign that reads "Justice for Manny" in this June 5, 2020 file photo. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Two Tacoma police officers involved in the death of Manuel Ellis in March of 2020 were exonerated following a lengthy Internal Affairs investigation.

‘This hit me different’: Gee and Draze react to charges against officers in Manuel Ellis death

Ellis died while in police custody on March 3, 2020, telling officers who were restraining him that he could not breathe. Parallels have since been drawn in the Puget Sound region between Ellis and George Floyd, with members of the community — as well as Ellis’ family — pushing to see justice served.

Two Tacoma officers — Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins — were charged with second-degree murder in May of 2021, while a third, Timothy Rankine, was charged with first-degree manslaughter charges. In total, six officers were involved.

Neither of the two officers exonerated this week — Armando Farinas and Masiyh Ford — were among the officers charged for Ellis’ death. Both had been on leave pending the results of an internal investigation, and will soon be allowed to resume patrol duty following “several weeks of training.”

Farinas had placed a spit hood over Ellis’ face, but was said to have had “no other contact” with him.

“At the time of the application, officers on scene, including Officer Farinas, were concerned about a possible biohazard exposure due to Mr. Ellis spitting near officers,” a statement from TPD reads. “Officer Farinas was familiar with how a spit hood worked and volunteered to retrieve one and apply it.”

“While the investigation did show that Officer Farinas placed the spit hood on Mr. Ellis, it was found the actions of Officer Farinas were reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances,” the statement continued.

Stine: It’s time to listen to others’ views on Manuel Ellis case

Ford was said to have taken “hold of Mr. Ellis’ legs to allow him to be detained in a restraint.”

“Other witnesses confirmed that once Mr. Ellis was detained, Officer Ford continued to speak with Mr. Ellis trying to calm him down and let him know medical aid was on the way,” the Tacoma Police Department said. “When Mr. Ellis commented that he could not breathe, Officer Ford assisted in rolling him onto his side in a recovery position.”

Tacoma PD released a statement on Tuesday, welcoming the Farinas and Ford back to work:

We are pleased to welcome Officers Armando Farinas and Masiyh Ford back to active duty with the Tacoma Police Department. They are dedicated servants to our City and members of our community. After a thorough review of their actions by the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Attorney General’s Office, they were found to have no culpability in the death of Manuel Ellis. Their actions have again been reviewed thoroughly, this time by the Tacoma Police Department and other City officials. Their exoneration of any misconduct reaffirms that they followed their training and the Tacoma Police Department’s policies and expectations.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

34 minutes ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

2 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

3 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

3 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

4 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

7 hours ago

2 Tacoma officers involved in death of Manuel Ellis exonerated following investigation