Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Tacoma Mayor Demands Arrest of 4 Officers After Man's Death in Police Custody
Is Ruled Homicide

VOA News

   The death of a 33-year-old black man who was heard saying, "I can't
   breathe," while in police custody in Tacoma, Washington,has been ruled
   a homicide, according to a medical examiner's report released
   Wednesday. The mayor of Tacoma has since called for the arrest of all
   four officers involved.

   "The officer who committed this crime should be fired and prosecuted to
   the fullest extent of the law," said Tacoma Mayor VictoriaWoodardsin a
   [1]video statement late Thursday night. "I am demanding tonight that
   the Pierce County sheriff review and confirm every action taken by each
   officer. I demand that the sheriff provide details of the actions of
   each officer on the scene, and I am directing the city manager to fire
   each officer involved."

   Manuel Ellis died in handcuffs while being restrained on the ground by
   police after officers reported seeing him try to get into occupied
   vehicles on March 3, according to a statement from the city's police
   department.

   The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Ellis was
   killed by respiratory arrest resulting from oxygen deprivation due to
   physical restraint. Other contributing factors included methamphetamine
   intoxication and dilated cardiomyopathy, commonly known as an enlarged
   heart. While the report rules Ellis' death a homicide, it does not
   automatically lead to potential criminal charges.

   A [2]cellphone video of the violent arrest emerged late Thursday night
   and shows police officers punching and aggressively restraining Ellis.
   At one point, the officers are seen on top of him, telling him to "just
   put your hands behind your back."

References

   1. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=588337695155618&ref=watch_permalink
   2. https://www.king5.com/video/news/new-video-shows-tacoma-police-officer-punching-restraining-manuel-ellis-before-he-died/281-4dfdde98-662b-4c7d-ab69-98788ccc2e83

.