City of Tacoma to pay $6 million to family of Manuel Ellis
TACOMA, Wash. - The City of Tacoma will pay out $6 million to the family of Manuel Ellis, the man killed while in Tacoma police custody in March 2020.
The backstory:
Three officers with the department faced trial for the 33-year-old's death, but were ultimately acquitted of manslaughter and murder.
Manny Ellis case: Jury finds 3 Tacoma police officers not guilty for all charges
A jury found three police officers charged in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Tacoma, Washington man who was beaten, shocked and hogtied face down on a sidewalk, not guilty of all charges.
The family sued both the city and Pierce County. The county previously settled with the family for $4 million back in 2022. The settlement on Tuesday brings their overall total $10 million.
In a statement, the Manuel Ellis Family attorney James Bible wrote:
"This has been a long and difficult journey for a family that was dedicated to getting some measure of justice for their lost loved one. No amount of money matches the tremendous loss they have experienced. They miss him everyday and even more on holidays.
"We hope that Manny’s name and experience is never forgotten. We hope that the City of Tacoma and Pierce County will find ways to honor his name."
Manuel Ellis, a Tacoma, Washington man, was beaten, shocked and hogtied face down on a sidewalk, with police on top of him as he pleaded for breath. Ellis’ death was ruled a homicide caused by oxygen deprivation, happening nearly three months before George Floyd’s death sparked an international outcry against police brutality.
The three officers faced charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter, but a jury returned a not guilty verdict in December 2023.
Acquittals in Manuel Ellis' death put Washington state's police accountability law in the spotlight
A Washington state law aimed at improving police accountability is in the spotlight after three Tacoma officers were acquitted in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who was shocked, beaten and restrained face-down on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath.
The Source: Information in this story came from Manuel Ellis Family attorney James Bible, the City of Tacoma and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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