Crime
Officer acquitted in 2020 death of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma is employed by neighboring sheriff’s office
SEATTLE (AP) — One of three Tacoma law enforcement officials cleared of criminal charges in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis — a Black man who was shocked, beaten and pinned face down on the sidewalk as he pleaded for breath — has been hired by the neighbor’s sheriff’s office.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, based in Olympia, Washington, announced Monday on its Facebook page that it has hired former Tacoma Officer Christopher Burbank as a patrol deputy.
Burbank and two other officers – Timothy Rankine and Matthew Collins – were cleared of criminal charges by a Pierce County grand jury last December. Rankine was charged with manslaughter, while Collins and Burbank were charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder.
Their lawyers argued that Ellis died from a lethal dose of methamphetamine and heart disease, not in consequence of the officers’ actions. The Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide and determined it was caused by lack of oxygen during physical restraint.
Ellis’ family was shocked and saddened by the hiring, said attorney Matthew Ericksen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle continues to review the case, which could result in criminal prosecution for federal civil rights violations, and a wrongful death lawsuit is pending.
“There is strong evidence in the Ellis case, including but not limited to cell phone videos, that should be of interest to any reasonable person,” Ericksen said in an email Tuesday. “There is no dispute that Mr. Burbank tased an unarmed person 3 times. Mr. Burbank even used a Taser when one other officer choked Manny.
Like many law enforcement agencies across the country, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is fighting staffing shortages; a Facebook post announcing the hiring said Burbank would “provide immediate assistance to our patrol division.”
In an emailed statement Tuesday, Sheriff Derek Sanders said Burbank underwent a two-month background check, including a polygraph examination. Sanders emphasized that his office is attempting to improve its emergency response by including mental health professionals, and added that the dashboard and body-worn cameras help provide transparency.
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“While recognizing the disturbing nature of the events in Tacoma four years ago, we want to emphasize that Deputy Burbank has been cleared of any wrongdoing by both the Tacoma Police Department, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office and the jury trial,” Sanders said.
Ellis, 33, was walking home with donuts from a 7-Eleven in Tacoma, about 30 miles south of Seattle, on March 3, 2020, when he passed a police automotive stopped at a red light with Collins and Burbank inside.
Officers claimed they saw Ellis attempting to open the door of a passing automotive on the intersection, and after they tried to query him, he became aggressive. Collins testified that Ellis demonstrated “superhuman strength” by lifting Collins off the bottom and throwing him into the air.
However, three witnesses testified that they saw nothing of the sort. After what seemed to be a transient conversation between Ellis and the officers – who were each white – Burbank, in the passenger seat, threw open the door, knocking Ellis down, they said. Rankine, who arrived after Ellis was already handcuffed face down, knelt on his back.
Witnesses – one of whom shouted for officers to stop attacking Ellis – and an intercom surveillance camera recorded video of part of the encounter. The video shows Ellis together with his hands raised in a give up position as Burbank shot him in the chest with a stun gun and Collins put his arm around his neck from behind.
His death got here nearly three months before the murder of George Floyd by the hands of Minneapolis police, which sparked international protests against police brutality.
The Tacoma Police Department found that the officers didn’t violate its use-of-force policy on the time – which was subsequently updated – and the three officers each received $500,000 to resign.
Pierce County, where Tacoma is positioned, has settled part of the family’s federal wrongful death lawsuit for $4 million. The case against the town is still pending.
The trial was the primary under a five-year-old state law intended to make it easier to prosecute police accused of illegal use of deadly force.
New York authorities have identified 26-year-old Luigi Mangione as an individual of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
According to police, a McDonald’s worker recognized Mangione in a photograph taken by NYPD Crime Stoppers and called authorities to report that he was eating at the restaurant, which led to his arrest.
Police say Mangione was carrying an anti-corporate manifesto, false identification and a ghost gun.
“It fits the description we were looking for,” Mayor Eric Adams said. An early NYPD report drew criticism online for calling the suspect a “light-skinned male” fairly than simply saying he was white.
The New York Post reports that Mangione previously attended the University of Pennsylvania, was valedictorian of the highschool in 2016 and had ties to Towson, Maryland. His social media posts indicate motivation related to dissatisfaction with the health care industry.
The shooting gained national attention because of the lukewarm response to Thompson’s death from many voters, who criticized the high insurance denial rate and greed that contributed to the American loss of life.
NYPD officers will now travel to Pennsylvania to query Mangione. Watch the entire press conference below:
Iroc Avelli, OJ Simpson’s former bodyguard, claimed to have a recording of the late NFL player admitting to killing Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. According to .evaluation of the audio recording showed the claim to be false.
In June 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) contacted the Bloomington, Minnesota police department to realize access to thumb drives confiscated during Avelli’s 2022 arrest.
Bloomington Police Department arrested Avelli for alleged assault in 2022; upon arrest, the police seized Avelli’s backpack and obtained an order to gather relevant evidence on the scene. The backpack contained multiple flash drives that the previous security guard said contained Simpson’s confessions.
According to Peasant! News“search warrant filed in Hennepin County requested by Officer George Harms seek for image pendrives in order that “a full forensic examination could possibly be carried out on all of the pendrives to acquire the recording.”
The Bloomington Police Department didn’t return the drives, opting as an alternative to conduct an internal forensic examination. After a digital forensics specialist examined the drives, Bloomington police didn’t disclose any information of “probative value” to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The further investigation into the Simpson and Goldman murders is strange because on October 3, 1995, OJ Simpson was acquitted of all charges. The former San Francisco 49er maintained his innocence until his death from cancer on April 11, 2024.
After his acquittal, OJ Simpson continued to benefit from his fame. In 1996, the Buffalo Bills player published a book titled If I Did It: Confessions of a Killer. Many found the book’s title and content distasteful and criticized it Naked weapon the actor’s constant presence in celebrity culture.
However, many individuals imagine that Simpson’s acquittal ought to be enough to just accept his presence in all spaces. BLACK ENTERPRISES reports on rapper Cam’Ron’s response to criticism after Simpson was invited on his sports show before his death.
The It is what it’s the host and businessman believes that the accusations – proven in court – shouldn’t result in ostracization. Cam’Ron believes that Simpson’s race may have played a job in continuously questioning his innocence throughout his life.
“Look, if he was guilty, we wouldn’t have him on the show,” he said. “You wish to proceed convicting an innocent man. He is innocent. If it was another person, whiter, you’d all say, “Oh, he’s innocent.” TO BE reported.
It appears that the hearings and investigation into Orenthol James Simpson’s role, or lack thereof, in his ex-wife’s murder will proceed even after his death.
Tatisha Refuge, a 47-year-old New Orleans resident, turned herself in to authorities after the death of 3-year-old Rudy Ratliff. Refuge is charged with “manslaughter by negligence.”
Rudy’s mother, Leshawn Ratliff, lives in Texas but visited Refuge, her foster mother, in the previous few days of Thanksgiving. Nov 8 News.
“I came here on Saturday to pick up my older son. He was here over Thanksgiving break, and I came down on Saturday to pick him up so we could go home on Sunday and they could go back to school on Monday.” Ratliff he said.
While playing UNO, Refuge’s unsecured gun fell from her belt and fired, striking Rudy. Ratliff she recounted how the scene unfolded when she discovered Rudy had been shot.
“I began seeing blood coming out of his chest. That’s once I knew he had been shot. So I called 911.
The mother didn’t wish to wait for 911. Instead, she decided to take Rudy to University Medical Center for treatment. She said that after they arrived at the ability, Rudy seemed to be alive. Unfortunately, 20 minutes later she was informed of his death.
Tatisha Refuge has been charged with negligent homicide within the shooting death of 3-year-old Rudy Ratliff. #Khou11 @AmandaHTV
https://t.co/BFIeGhAHYG— KHOU 11 Houston News (@KHOU) December 4, 2024
Ratliff she nurtured her relationship with Refuge and is torn now that the accusations involve her foster mother.
“It was a random shooting. His grandfather’s gun fell. It wasn’t within the secure. It wasn’t within the gun position. I believe it went into the pocket and fell out and shot my son,” Ratliff said. “I understand it was a mistake. I imagine in my heart that it was a mistake. I just don’t understand. I just don’t understand.
The grieving mother began a GoFundMe and is asking the general public for help with Rudy’s burial. To support the Ratliff family of their time of need, click here.
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