Date: Nov 29, 2009
Right Pundits Ryan
Source 2: http://blatheringsblog.com/?p=4642
Police are searching for Maurice Clemmons, “Person of Interest” after four Washington Police Officers, shot and killed in a Parkland coffee-shop as they were preparing for their shift, were ambushed and murdered. The four officers, Sergeant Mark Renninger, Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards all died at the scene.
The officers were all original members of the Lakewood Police Department. Between the four officers nine children were left behind. Read more about this tragic story, see pictures of the fallen officers, and see a video news report below.
Authorities are reporting that the killer may have been wounded by one of the slain officers who was able to fire shots at the suspect before he died. Police Spokesman Ed Troyer stated the following:
“There is evidence that a Lakewood Police officer fired off some shots, and we hope that he hit him,” said Troyer. “If he’s hit, that means that he’s injured somewhere with a gunshot wound.”
Troyer said local hospitals have been contacted in case the suspect seeks medical attention.
Maurice Clemmons has been identified as a “Person of Interest” in the slayings. Clemmons has a lengthy criminal history in Arkansas and was in jail in Washington until approximately six days ago. It is also being reported that Clemmons was sentenced to 95 years behind bars in Arkansas but then governor Mike Huckabee commuted the sentence after nine years.
The Lakewood Police Chief, Chief Bret Farrar, issued the following statement:
“This is a very difficult time for our families and our officers. The families will have many challenges ahead of them and we ask that their privacy be respected. Please keep our families and Lakewood Police in your prayers,”
The suspect walked into the coffee shop and acted as if he were going to order coffee when he then turned and opened fire. Two of the officers were immediately killed while sitting at their table, one officer was killed as they stood up to respond to the attacker and the fourth officer was killed after fighting with the suspect. None of the other patrons at the location were injured, and no one was robbed. It appears that the only motive the suspect had was to kill police officers. The suspect is described as a black male between 25 and 35, rough face and hair, wearing a black coat, jeans
A $10,000 reward has been offered leading to the arrest of the suspect. Searches in the area are being conducted and tracking dogs have been brought to the area in an effort to locate the suspect. The video below is from a local television station:
Thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Washington State Police Community during this difficult time. There have now been 8 officers killed in the line of duty in the past 18 months in Washington State. Pictures of these four Washington Police Officers, shot and killed in the line of duty, are above. Maurice Clemmons “Person of Interest” in this case is being sought for questioning by authorities in connection with the shootings. Anyone with information is urged to contact any Washington State police department. Obviously Maurice Clemmons is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Blathering's Text:
here’s a statement on huckabee’s website which seems to blame the legal systems in arkansas and washington for the release of willie horton er, violent maurice clemmons:
“He was recommended for and received a commutation of his original sentence from 1990, this commutation made him parole eligible and he was then paroled by the parole board once they determined he met the conditions at that time. He was arrested later for parole violation and taken back to prison to serve his full term, but prosecutors dropped the charges that would have held him.”
well governor… it seems to me that the legal systems in both states may have failed a bit to protect its citizens but you were a part of that failure but opening the door to this violent beast in the first place.
frankly, its pretty hard to rape children or kill, in cold blood, policemen in washington state if your locked up in prison in arkansas.
http://blatheringsblog.com/?p=4642
Slain Officers Have Combined 9 Children,
47 Years In Law Enforcement
Donate To Families Of Slain Officers
Those interested in supporting the families of the slain officers are welcome to make a donation through the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG) Benevolent Fund online at http://lpig.us or send a check to:Donate To Families Of Slain Officers
Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG) Benevolent Fund
PO Box 99579, Lakewood, WA 98499
In addition, all Forza coffee locations are accepting donations for the families of Lakewood's fallen four officers. Many of the shops baristas are also donating all of Monday's days tips to the LPIG.
Cash or checks can be made out to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG).
Those with information on the crime should call the Pierce County Sheriff's Department at 866-977-2362.
Source: http://www.kirotv.com/news/21756239/detail.html
Documents Say Clemmons Had Bizarre Visions, Threatened Jail Workers
Posted: 8:48 am PST December 1, 2009
Source: http://www.kirotv.com/news/21772458/detail.html
Posted: 8:48 am PST December 1, 2009
Source: http://www.kirotv.com/news/21772458/detail.html
SEATTLE -- The man police said gunned down four Lakewood police officers Sunday had been exhibiting bizarre behavior during an arrest in May, police documents said.
Clemmons was charged earlier this year with assaulting a police officer and raping a child, and investigators in the sex case said he was motivated by visions that he was Jesus Christ and that the world was on the verge of the apocalypse.
Documents related to those charges indicated that Clemmons had a volatile personality. In one instance, he is accused of gathering his wife and young relatives and forcing them to undress. Following May's charges, Clemmons was ordered to receive a mental health evaluation On Oct. 19. KIRO 7's partner, the News Tribune, obtained a copy of that report, which said Clemmons threatened to kill jail workers, saying, "I'll kill all you bitches," and described hallucinations in which he saw people drinking blood and eating babies.
The report said at the time of his arrest, Clemmons made "religiously-themed comments, told the officer President Obama and Lebron James are his brothers, Oprah is his sister and referred to himself as 'the beast.'"
Two psychologists concluded Clemmons was dangerous, and likely to commit future criminal acts jeopardizing public safety, but he was deemed competent to stand trial and not a candidate for voluntary commitment.
Clemmons was released after posting a combined bail of $190,000 for the two charges.
Police said they aren't sure what prompted Clemmons to shoot the four officers, who were in uniform and working on paperwork at the coffee shop just two blocks outside their jurisdiction on Sunday.
"The only motive that we have is he decided he was going to go kill police officers," Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. He said Clemmons talked the night before the shooting about killing a group of cops and watching the news.
Clemmons was shot dead by a Seattle police officer who found Clemmons outside a stolen car on a Rainer Valley street early Tuesday.
Copyright 2009 by KIROTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Get Stoked Notes: can I thank God this liberal didn't get elected in 08? Would he have been any better than the Osama bin Obama we got?
