‘I can't breathe'

Three cops were in the dock after a man’s violent death

On 3 March 2020, Manuel Ellis – known as Manny – wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary.

He played the drums at his church.

Made calls to a few pals. Then he went on a snack run to a 24-hour convenience store near his home in Tacoma, in Pierce County, Washington.

He bought a box of raspberry doughnuts and a bottle of water, and left the shop at 11:11pm.

What happened next is a story bearing alarming similarities to others across the US.

Manny, 33 – a Black man – walked past a police car.

Two police officers, Matthew Collins, and Christopher Burbank, were sitting inside.

Manny spoke to them for about 10 or 15 seconds, according to eyewitnesses.

Then the officers launched themselves out of the car.

Pounced on Manny and proceeded to arrest him. There was a struggle. They called for backup, and officer Timothy Rankine arrived.

Helped hog-tie Manny, who was then pinned to the pavement wearing a spit hood.

By the time emergency services arrived and removed the hood, Manny was unconscious.

Barely breathing, his pulse was faint.

Paramedics attempted CPR, but Manny was pronounced dead at 12:12am.

A spent Taser cartridge and a smashed box of doughnuts were next to his body. The Pierce County medical examiner ruled Manny’s death a homicide, caused by oxygen deprivation.

He was suffocated.

Public outrage

There was outrage across the city at the police’s actions.

Compounded when, two months later, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

While arresting George, Chauvin had his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes.

George Floyd’s death sparked worldwide protests for racial justice.

Manny and George’s dying words had been the same. ‘I can’t breathe.’

Something the prosecution would later emphasise in court.

For months, the police claimed that Manny was the aggressor.

They said he’d tried to get into a stranger’s car.

Banged on the window of their patrol car.

Yet, eyewitnesses contradicted their story.

Harrowing footage of the arrest emerged too.

Recorded by a passing motorist, and a nearby doorbell camera from a house across the street.

In May 2021, the three Tacoma police officers were finally charged.

In autumn 2023, Matthew Collins, 40, and Christopher Burbank, 38, went on trial for Manny’s second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Timothy Rankine, 34, went on trial for manslaughter. They all pleaded not guilty. The prosecution��