Officer Acquitted in Manny Ellis Case Files $47 Million Lawsuit

Timothy Rankine, one of the Washington State police officers acquitted in the death of Manuel "Manny" Ellis, has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against city and state officials, claiming he was falsely accused of criminal and racial misconduct.

In a stunning turn of events, one of the Washington State police officers acquitted of criminal charges in the 2020 death of Manny Ellis has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against city and state officials, claiming he was falsely accused of criminal and racial misconduct.

Timothy Rankine, an Asian American former Tacoma police officer, claims in his lawsuit that his reputation was destroyed during the high-profile trial, which concluded with the acquittal of all three officers involved in Ellis's death. Rankine alleges that the prosecution against him was politically motivated and led to threats against his family.

Ellis, a Black man, died in March 2020 in Tacoma police custody after being shocked, beaten, and held facedown on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath. A Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by a lack of oxygen during the physical restraint.

During the trial, Rankine testified that he held Ellis down on his back despite Ellis's pleas that he could not breathe. The officers' attorneys argued that Ellis died from a lethal amount of methamphetamine as well as a heart condition, not from the officers' actions.

Rankine's lawsuit seeks $47 million in damages from the city of Tacoma and state officials, including former Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer, who was involved in the initial investigation into Ellis's death. Rankine alleges that Troyer falsely accused him of racial misconduct and that the city failed to properly investigate the incident.

In addition to Rankine's lawsuit, a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Ellis's family against the city and the officers is still pending. The family previously settled for $4 million with Pierce County, which first investigated Ellis's death.

The Ellis case has sparked outrage and protests in Tacoma, with many calling for reforms to the police department and an end to police brutality. The acquittals of the officers have further angered the community, leading to calls for accountability and justice for Ellis's family.

Ellis's death also remains under review by the Department of Justice for possible civil rights violations, while state officials are investigating whether to revoke the officers' certifications.

The lawsuit filed by Rankine raises further questions about the events surrounding Ellis's death and the subsequent investigation and trial. The city of Tacoma has yet to comment on the lawsuit, but the allegations made by Rankine are likely to further fuel the debate over police transparency and accountability.