Former Tacoma Officer Cleared in Manuel Ellis Case Hired by Thurston County Sheriff's Office

The hiring comes after the officer was acquitted of charges related to Ellis's death, which was ruled a homicide due to physical restraint.

Christopher Burbank, one of the three Tacoma police officers acquitted in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis, has been hired by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
The Pierce County jury cleared Burbank and two other officers of criminal charges last December, following Ellis's death which was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.
Ellis's death, caused by a lack of oxygen during restraint, sparked an outcry nearly three months before George Floyd’s murder highlighted police brutality.
The Ellis family settled a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Pierce County for $4 million, while a wrongful death lawsuit is still pending against the city.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle is reviewing the case for potential federal civil rights violations.