Arr, Washington be ponderin' a ban on hog-tyin' after poor ol' Manuel Ellis met Davy Jones' locker.
2024-01-22
Arrr, me hearties! Word be that those scurvy dogs o' Washington state be ponderin' a ban on trussin' up suspects like hogs, 'tis claimed to have caused the demise o' Manuel Ellis in '21. Let's see if they be swabbin' the decks and takin' proper action, ye scallywags!
Washington state lawmakers are considering a proposal to ban the use of hog-tying as a restraint technique by police. This comes nearly four years after the death of Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, who died while in police custody with his hands and feet cuffed together behind him. The case became a symbol for racial justice activists in the Pacific Northwest.Hog-tying, a technique that involves binding a suspect's hands and feet together, has long been criticized for its potential to cause suffocation. While some cities and counties have already banned the practice, it remains in use in other areas.
Democratic Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, the sponsor of the bill, wants to prevent further dehumanization and ensure that suspects are treated as human beings by law enforcement. Several states have recently passed policing reforms in response to protests against racial injustice, but few have specifically banned prone restraint.
California and Minnesota are among the few states that have prohibited certain forms of restraint due to the risk of positional asphyxia. The U.S. Department of Justice has recommended against the practice since 1995, and many local jurisdictions have already barred it.
The bill has received support from Ellis' sister, Monet Carter-Mixon, and is co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. John Lovick, a former state trooper. Republican Rep. Gina Mosbrucker expressed interest in learning more about the legislation and suggested providing funding for alternative methods of restraint if hog-tying is deemed dangerous.
This proposal comes after a wave of police reform legislation in Washington state in recent years, which included stricter guidelines for the use of force and requirements for de-escalation tactics. The bill will now be considered by lawmakers, with the aim of preventing future tragedies and promoting more humane treatment of suspects in police custody.