Two police officers in Tacoma, Washington, have been cleared to return to work after an investigation into whether they violated department policy related to the death of a Black man in police custody.  

The incident occurred on March 3, 2020, when officers arrested Ellis for allegedly attempting to open car doors of cars that were occupied. According to a press release from the department, officers Armando Farinas and Masyih Ford were “exonerated of any policy violations related to their involvement in the Manual Ellis case.”  

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Interim Chief Mike Ake made the decision to allow the officers to return to active duty after the department’s Internal Affairs sector, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, Washington State Patrol and the state’s Attorney General’s office conducted investigations.  

Farinas was investigated for his application of a spit hood placed on Ellis. Spit hoods are a loose fabric sack that is placed over a person’s head to prevent them from biting or spitting, The New York Times reported.  

According to police, at the time it was placed on Ellis, officers were worried about a possible “biohazard exposure” due to Ellis spitting near officers. After placing the hood on Ellis, Farinas had no other contact with him. The investigation concluded Farinas’ actions were reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.  

Ford was investigated for a possible violation of the department’s use of force policy. Investigators found that he took hold of Ellis’ legs to restrain him. Police said witnesses confirmed Ford continued to try to calm Ellis down. Additionally, investigators said Ford helped Ellis roll to his side after saying he could not breathe and he alerted medical staff that Ellis’ condition was failing.  

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In May, three other officers, Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine, were charged with murder and manslaughter for Ellis’ death, according to CNN. It was the first time in the state’s history that the attorney general charged officers for unlawful use of deadly force.  

Officers Burbank and Collins are accused of striking Ellis multiple times, applying a Lateral Vascular Neck restraint and shooting him with a Taser three times. Rankine is accused of recklessly causing Ellis’ death after continuing to hold him in the prone position after hearing the man say he could not breathe.  

The exonerated officers, Ford and Farinas, will undergo several weeks of training before returning to patrol duties. 

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