1 Year Since Manuel Ellis' Death, Local Leaders Call For Closure

TACOMA, WA — As of Wednesday, it has been one year since Manuel Ellis was killed by Tacoma police, a somber anniversary which has local leaders reflecting on how the Ellis' case has progressed over the past 365 days— and the questions and challenges that remain.

To mark the occasion, the Tacoma City Council published an open letter calling on Attorney General Bob Ferguson and his office to continue prioritizing Ellis' case and quickly complete their investigation into his death.

The letter reads, in part:

"On this solemn date, as we and the Tacoma community continue to await the outcomes of this case, we express our sorrow for the family of Manuel Ellis.

"Going forward, we must take every step we can to restore trust in the investigation of deaths in police custody – and that applies not just in Tacoma, but for every family in Washington state. We will continue to advocate for a statewide office to do just that, and we hope you will reach out to us if there are ways we can work in partnership to move this goal forward."

The Washington State Patrol completed their investigation into Ellis' death back in November. The attorney general's office has been reviewing the case since and has said it will announce its decision in the coming weeks.

Many, including Ellis' family, have been critical of how long it has taken the state to resolve the investigation into Ellis' death, something the Tacoma council's letter also touched on:

"Last week, we heard the Ellis family’s call for closure, and we heard them implore you to move forward in your review of the Manuel Ellis case. We believe every one of us can empathize with the family’s frustration and heartbreak on the anniversary of the loss of their loved one."

Also sharing their condolences is the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department, who says Ellis' death is a reminder that racism is a public health crisis.

"A year ago today, Manuel Ellis—a Black man who was a father, a son, and a member of our community—died while in police custody. Our hearts go out to his family for the pain and loss rekindled on this tragic anniversary. Our hearts go out as well to our community that shares the grief and anger," writes Anthony L-T Chen, Pierce County's director of health.

Spurred by Ellis' death and the national conversation about police brutality and racism last summer, the health department passed a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. As part of that resolution, the county created the Racism and Resilience Action Response Team (RRART) to tackle issues of racism and equity.

According to Chen, it was a significant first step, but not the last.

"Much has changed in the year since Mr. Ellis’ death, but even more work remains," writes Chen. "Equity, justice, and concrete actions pave the road to healing, and we are all on this journey together."

At the time of Ellis' death, the officers involved claimed that he had been delirious, banging on their car and trying to attack them. They say they restrained Ellis in an attempt to calm him down.

But as the months have gone on and the investigation changed hands, more information has come into light that casts the officers' account into question.

In June, the Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled Ellis' death had been a homicide, a direct result of the pressure the officers had placed on him. Shortly after that, a new video of the altercation surfaced, contradicting the officers' earlier claims that Ellis had not been choked.

That same week, it was discovered that the Pierce County Sheriff's Department had had a deputy on-scene at the time of Ellis' death. The sheriff's department had previously been tasked with investigating the Tacoma police officers' use of force, but had not disclosed that they had also been involved. When the news broke, Gov. Jay Inslee ordered they cease their investigation, and handed the case to Washington State Patrol, who had to start the process over from scratch — one reason the case has taken so long to resolve.

Even as recently as December, the public was still learning more about the circumstances surrounding Ellis' death. That month, new WSP documents, obtained by the Seattle Times, showed that two more officers than previously thought had also participated in restraining Ellis, bringing the total to six law enforcement agents: five Tacoma police officers and one off-duty sheriff's sergeant.

As Tacoma's letter notes, this drip-feed of new details and a lack of resolution, has been hard for everyone:

"As this case has passed from the Pierce County Sheriff, to the Pierce County Prosecutor, to the Washington State Patrol, and finally – in mid-November – to the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Ellis’ family and loved ones have waited for the conclusion of an independent investigation. Indeed, the tension and weight of a full year with so many questions yet to be answered can be felt throughout our community."

The attorney general's office has said they will finish their review of WSP's investigation and announce a charging decision within the next five weeks. They have also promised to release all their findings to the public.