"Police officers argue drugs caused death of black man in trial"

Lawyers for three Washington state police officers charged in the death of Manuel Ellis argued in court that his death was the result of drug use, not excessive force. Ellis, a Black man, died in 2020 after being choked, shocked, and held facedown by the officers. The defense claimed that Ellis's methamphetamine addiction made him violent and unpredictable, forcing the officers to use force. The prosecution countered by presenting videos and witness testimony that contradicted the officers' statements. The trial marks the first case since a 2018 measure removed the requirement for prosecutors to prove police acted with malice in suspect deaths.