A forensic pathologist returned to the witness stand Monday to continue testifying in the trial for the death of Manuel Ellis. Three Tacoma police officers face charges in the death of Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man who died in police custody in March 2020. Officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins are charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Officer Timothy Rankine is charged with first-degree manslaughter. Dr. Roger Mitchell, who first took the stand Thursday, said the way Ellis was restrained by the officers is ultimately what led to his death. Mitchell has been a practicing forensic pathologist since 2007 and is currently the chair of pathology and the chief medical officer for ambulatory care at Howard University. His experience spans over a decade overseeing thousands of death investigations in New York, Washington D.C., New Jersey and Texas. In addition to his duties, Mitchell teaches medical students and residents, including lessons about hypoxia and its effects. On Monday, Mitchell was asked to expand on his findings about how Ellis died: mechanical asphyxia due to violent subdual and restraint by law enforcement. Mitchell said that because Ellis could not get enough oxygen in his body after expending energy in the altercation with police officers, his heart began to fail. Read more: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/death-of-manuel-ellis/tacoma-trial-death-manuel-ellis-forensic-pathologist/281-5486525b-9e65-429c-a473-e1f4f318ff59