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$1.00 outside King, Pierce, Independent and locally owned since 1896 seattletimes.com 75¢ Snohomish, Kitsap counties 1.6 million readers weekly in Western Washington, in print and online FRUSTRATED POLICE SCOUR THE REGION Suspect leaves trail but eludes capture; questions about legal system grow

THE SUSPECT

Maurice Clemmons

DESCRIPTION Age: 37 Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Weight: 235 pounds Features: Black hair; brown eyes; mole on left cheek $125,000 REWARD A reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of Clemmons. Tipline: 866-977-2362. FIVE PAGES INSIDE

HUCKABEE LINK TED S. WARREN / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS How Clemmons won Lakewood police officers become emotional at a press conference Monday. Four fellow officers were shot to death Sunday as they sat in a coffee shop. clemency from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2000 and POLICE BELIEVE the political fallout for Four days the former Republican CLEMMONS HAS presidential candidate RECEIVED HELP in May > Close-up A3 FROM HIS FAMILY set stage AND FRIENDS for tragedy BY SARA JEAN GREEN AND CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE BY NICK PERRY, MAUREEN Seattle Times staff reporters O’HAGAN, JONATHAN MARTIN AND KEN ARMSTRONG PARKLAND, Pierce County – Seattle Times staff reporters Maurice Clemmons is likely des- perate: He is believed to be Over four days in May, Mau- THE REACTION armed, but he’s running out of rice Clemmons’ behavior and friends to help him stay ahead of mental state deteriorated. Fam- Tens of thousands of police. And the gunshot wound ily members worried he had Facebook users to his gut probably hasn’t gone crazy, that he was verging worldwide express stopped bleeding. KEVIN P. CASEY / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS on collapse. His conduct became words of support after “It’s unfortunate he’s been a Seattle police SWAT members leave a house in the Leschi neighbor- so erratic — punching a sheriff’s the slayings of the step or two ahead of us,” Pierce hood Monday after finding no sign of suspect Maurice Clemmons. deputy, forcing relatives to strip officers; a candlelight County sheriff’s Detective Ed naked, according to police re- vigil is planned Troyer said Monday, nearly 36 ports — that authorities eventu- Wednesday night > A6 hours after Clemmons is accused ally charged him with eight felo- of executing four Lakewood po- nies, including one count of child THE CONCERNS lice officers in a Parkland coffee rape. African-American shop. But, Troyer said, the num- Still, at the end of those four leaders worry that the ber of people willing to help him days, Clemmons wound up on furious manhunt for is dwindling fast. the loose — a delusional man Clemmons could Detectives have detained sev- with a propensity for violence, increase the potential eral of Clemmons’ friends, family who had managed to escape the members and acquaintances — grip of authorities. for racial profiling > A6 and could arrest and book many What happened in those four NICOLE BRODEUR of them into jail for helping days — and in the months that Halloween ambush of Clemmons elude capture, Troyer followed — reflects a system gov- Seattle officers, all-night said. On Monday night, the Sher- erned by formula and misguided iff’s Office launched a series of incentives. police stakeout of tactical operations targeting the That legal system, both in Ar- Clemmons relative’s homes of relatives and friends kansas and Washington, failed to home exact a heavy toll believed to be helping Clem- account for the entirety of Clem- on Seattle’s Leschi mons, Troyer said. ERIKA SCHULTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES mons’ violence and his disdain neighborhood > A9 He said police are going after An officer wearing a gas mask exits the East Superior Street home in for the law. Individual crimes, See > MANHUNT, A7 Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood. Police staked out the home all night. See > RAGE, A8

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3 ROP 1 ROP TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 News A3 CloseUp Persuasive appeal helped Clemmons win clemency

A CHANGED MAN | the suffering of those families and the suffering of people in those Criminal history The repeat felon communities.” Humphrey said Monday he re- Highlights from Maurice convinced Gov. Mike members Clemmons and believed Clemmons’ criminal history in Huckabee and the he was genuinely remorseful and Arkansas. wanted to change. November 1989: At age 17, Arkansas Parole “I figure young people make some mistakes,” he said. Also a sentenced to 35 years for Board he had learned Presbyterian minister, Humphrey aggravated robbery and theft in from his mistakes. said he believes in giving people a Little Rock after he stole a purse second chance. from a woman, claiming he had Humphrey in 2004 also officiated a gun and punching her. BY JIM BRUNNER Clemmons’ wedding, according to a January 1990: Sentenced to 60 AND SUSAN KELLEHER copy of the marriage certificate. Seattle Times staff reporters years for burglary and theft for “It would be the furthest thing aurice Clemmons like- from my mind that he would go out stealing about $6,700 worth of ly would still be sitting and kill four police officers, if in fact items, including a gun, from an in an Arkansas prison he did,” Humphrey said. Arkansas state trooper’s home. cell if he hadn’t con- Huckabee also cited Clemmons’ February 1990: Sentenced to six Mvinced former Gov. Mike Huckabee young age at the time of his crimes years for possessing a .25-caliber and the state’s parole board that in an official proclamation commut- pistol at Hall High School, where he’d reformed while behind bars for ing his sentence. The proclamation he was a junior. Clemmons told a teenage crime spree. said Clemmons faced a 95-year sen- Clemmons, a suspect in Sunday’s tence but corrections officials in police he brought the gun to slaying of four Lakewood police of- that state said he likely would have protect himself against “dopers” ficers, had been sentenced to about served far less than that. who had chased and beaten him. 100 years in prison for several felo- The proclamation was one of August 2000: Released from nies, including bringing a gun to 1,033 commutations and pardons prison after then-Gov. Mike school and a robbery in which he Huckabee issued during his more Huckabee commutes his punched a woman in the face. than 10 years as governor. That’s sentence. He would not have been eligible about twice the number issued by for parole until 2015 or later, ac- his three predecessors combined. July 2001: Sentenced to 10 years cording to Arkansas court docu- in prison on a robbery charge. Back in prison ments and prosecutors. March 2004: Paroled again from But Clemmons was set free in Clemmons was released from prison. Later moves to 2000 — over the objections of pros- prison in August 2000 but was sent ecutors — after Huckabee commut- back on a parole violation — a rob- Washington state. ed the long prison sentence, making bery charge — in July 2001, accord- Sources: Clemmons petition for clemency; Arkansas him immediately eligible for parole. ing to Dina Tyler, spokeswoman for Democrat-Gazette archives In his appeal to Huckabee, Clem- the Arkansas Department of Correc- mons apologized for his actions but tions. complained he’d received overly He received a 10-year sentence, harsh sentences. Tyler said, but records show he was after arranging for a bail-bond com- Clemmons said he started his paroled again in March 2004. pany to post his $150,000 bond. His crime spree at 16, after he had WEB EXTRA Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry release here came despite seven moved from Seattle to a high-crime Jegley said that by his count, Clem- other pending charges, ac- neighborhood in Arkansas. Huckabee’s order mons should have been in jail until cording to court records. “I succumbed to the peer pressure View the entire commutation document and Maurice Clemmons’ 2021. Huckabee, a Republican presi- and the need I had to be accepted request for clemency at seattletimes.com “Mr. Huckabee made him parole- dential contender in 2008, issued a by other youth in my new environ- eligible 21 years before he would statement Sunday night mourning ment and fell in with the wrong the purse off her shoulder, accord- time of his crimes and called his have been,” Jegley said. the deaths of the Lakewood police crowd and thus began a seven ing to court records. cumulative sentence excessive. Clemmons’ volatile behavior in officers and saying that if Clem- month crime spree which led me to He was sentenced to 35 years in Clemmons’ release was unanimous- court gave officials little reason to mons is responsible “it will be the prison,” Clemmons wrote in his prison for that incident. ly approved by the parole board. show leniency. result of a series of failures in the clemency application to Huckabee. In his appeal for clemency, Clem- The Pulaski County prosecutor’s “He was one you always kept an criminal justice system in both Ar- mons said he had changed. office twice objected to parole rec- eye on,” said W.A. McCormick, kansas and Washington state.” “Good Christian family” “Where once stood a young ... ommendations for Clemmons. chief deputy for Jegley in the years Huckabee noted that Clemmons’ Clemmons wrote he came from misguided fool, who’s (sic) own life “For us to prosecute a 17-year- Clemmons was prosecuted. “You release was approved by the parole “a very good Christian family” and he was unable to rule. Now stands a old, and for him to get a 95-year just wanted to keep your distance board and that prosecutors in Ar- “was raised much better than my 27 year old man, who has learned sentence without a homicide — with him in the courtroom.” kansas failed to file additional actions speak ....” through ‘the school of hard knocks’ you’ve got to be a bad little dude to Fraiser recalled how Clemmons charges against Clemmons after his In a 1989 aggravated robbery, to appreciate and respect the rights draw that kind of a sentence,” said dismantled a pneumatic metal door parole violation in 2001, which Clemmons, 17 at the time, and two of others. And who has in the midst Mark Fraiser, who prosecuted the stop and hid it in his sock, possibly could have extended his time in accomplices accosted a woman at of the harsh reality of prison life de- early cases against Clemmons in Pu- to use as a weapon. A bailiff discov- prison. midnight in the parking lot of a Lit- veloped the necessary skills to stand laski County. ered it and took it away. “If I could have known nine years tle Rock hotel bar and robbed her of along (sic) and not follow a multi- Clemmons had insisted on sepa- A judge also accused Clemmons ago and could have looked into the $16 and a credit card. tude to do evil, as I did as a 16 year rate trials for each charge, Fraiser of threatening him, and, in yet an- future, would I have acted favor- The woman, Karen Hodge, testi- old child.” said, and the judge who presided other case, Clemmons took a lock ably upon the parole board’s recom- fied at trial that Clemmons threat- Clemmons added that his mother over the cases had a strong tenden- from his holding cell and threw it at mendation? Of course not,” Hucka- ened her by pretending to have a had recently died without seeing cy to issue consecutive sentences a bailiff, missing him and hitting bee told Fox News Radio on gun in his pocket. “Give me your him turn his life around and that he that reflected the judgment of ju- Clemmons’ mother instead. Monday. purse or I’m going to shoot you,” he prayed Huckabee would show com- rors in each case. Clemmons moved to Washington Arkansas Democrat-Gazette told her. passion by releasing him. Clemmons “had an obvious pro- state in 2004 while still on parole, a contributed to this story. Hodge, who’d had a glass of His clemency application was pensity for future violence,” Fraiser move approved by Arkansas au- Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or scotch, responded, “Well ... why supported by Pulaski County Circuit said Monday. “To wake up this thorities. He spent the past several [email protected] don’t you just shoot?” Clemmons Court Judge Marion Humphrey, morning and turn on the news and months in jail on a child-rape Susan Kelleher: 206-464-2508 or punched her in the head and tore who cited Clemmons’ youth at the hear his name, I can’t even imagine charge but was released last week [email protected] Political death blow for Huckabee? CLEMMONS COULD BE was governor of Massachu- the 2012 campaign. Willie Hor- HIS WILLIE HORTON setts. Two members of the state ton, whose Allies of former President parole board said Huckabee case under- George H.W. Bush ran ads pressured them to show Du- mined can- Commuted sentence criticizing Dukakis for his Mond mercy, while Hucka- didate Mi- suddenly a big liability support of the program, un- bee publicly questioned dermining the Democrat’s whether DuMond was guilty chael BY ANDREW DEMILLO presidential campaign. of the rape of a teenage girl. Dukakis The Associated Press As recently as Sunday, During the presidential pri- LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – As hours before the shooting maries, a conservative group governor of Arkansas, Mike suspect was linked to him, aired television commercials 2008 presidential bid, noting Huckabee had a hand in par- Huckabee said he was lean- in South Carolina featuring that Clemmons was not the doning or commuting many ing against running again for the mother of Carol Sue first convict to “go off the more prisoners than his three president, telling “Fox News Shields, whom DuMond deep end” after being re- immediate predecessors com- Sunday” he was “less likely killed in 2000 after his re- leased during Huckabee’s 10- bined. Maurice Clemmons, rather than more likely” to lease. year term. the suspect in Sunday’s slay- run. Clemmons’ case packs Prosecutors have said ings of four Seattle-area po- Huckabee is one of the Re- more potency: The facts of Huckabee, a Southern Baptist lice officers, was among publican Party’s most popular Huckabee’s involvement in preacher, was more inclined them. figures, but he has been SPENCER TIREY / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2001 the clemency decision are to release or reduce the sen- As Huckabee considers an- dogged by questions over the Mike Huckabee, one of the Republican Party’s most popu- less in dispute, and the crime tences of prisoners if he had other run for the White more than 1,000 commuta- lar figures, is seen as Arkansas governor. Nine years ago has played over and over on direct contact with them or House, Clemmons could be- tions and pardons he issued he commuted the prison sentence of Maurice Clemmons. national television. was lobbied by those close to come his Willie Horton. — more than his three prede- “It’s the same issue yet him. Joe Carter, a staffer on “In a primary between a cessors combined — during magnitude, obviously I quicksand, and if the Repub- again,” said Whit Ayres, a Re- Huckabee’s 2008 presidential law-and-order Republican his 10-year tenure. would have never granted a lican conservative establish- publican pollster. “The differ- campaign, suggested the for- and him, I think it could defi- During his 2008 presiden- commutation. It’s sickening,” ment doesn’t throw him a ence this time is that Gov. mer governor may simply be nitely be a vulnerability,” said tial campaign, he faced simi- Huckabee said Monday dur- lifeline immediately, it could Huckabee would start with too forgiving. Art English, a political scien- lar questions over the release ing an interview with Fox be very damaging to a presi- greater visibility and higher “Ironically, what makes tist at the University of Arkan- from prison of a convicted News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly. dential run,” said Ron Bon- in the polls, which always en- Huckabee such an appealing sas at Little Rock. “It is very rapist named Wayne Du- Huckabee joined O’Reilly jean, a Republican strategist. hances and exacerbates any presidential candidate — his damaging when you have Mond, who was later convict- in criticizing two judges who Huckabee won the Iowa possible criticisms.” empathy for all people and someone like that whose sen- ed of another rape and mur- freed Clemmons, 37, after he caucuses in 2008, finished “People might be able to genuine belief in the individ- tence was commuted. That’s der. posted a $15,000 bond just a second to Sen. John McCain understand one instance,” ual — is also the trait that will pretty high profile and very Huckabee tried then to dis- few days before the shooting. in the Washington state cau- said Don Sipple, a GOP strat- prevent him from ever reach- devastating and very tragic.” tance himself from any role in He had been jailed on cuses and went on to claim egist who stayed neutral in ing the White House,” Carter English said it’s hard to the DuMond parole, and on charges of second-degree several other key states, but the presidential primaries. wrote in a blog post Monday. avoid comparing the case to Sunday he similarly pointed rape in a case involving a he ultimately lost the GOP “But now you have two dif- “... The unfortunate reality is Horton, a convicted killer at “a series of failures in the young female relative. nomination to McCain. ference episodes where he’s that for politicians, unlike who raped a woman and as- criminal-justice system” re- Michelle Malkin, a popular Republicans rank him in shown poor judgment.” pastors, there are limits to saulted her fiancé while on garding Maurice Clemmons. conservative blogger, dubbed polls along with former Mas- “That’s somebody he prob- compassion.” release as part of a prison fur- “If I could have known nine the situation “Huckabee’s sachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ably shouldn’t have” let go Additional material from The lough program supported by years ago that this guy was Willie Horton.” and former Alaska Gov. Sa- free, said Dick Dresner, who Washington Post, Los Angeles when he capable of something of this “This story is political rah Palin as their favorites for helped steer Huckabee’s Times and A6 News TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 2 ROP 4 POLICE OFFICERS SLAIN

Officer Tina Officer Ron- Sgt. Mark Officer Greg- Griswold ald Owens Renninger ory Richards Grief, gratitude for slain officers MEMORIALS | Condolences continue to pour in from around the nation and world to the Lakewood Police Department. A candlelight vigil planned for Three women embrace Monday at a memorial for the slain officers at the Lake- Wednesday night is expected to draw thousands to Pierce County. wood Police Department.

PHOTOS BY ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES Officers and the public bring flowers, cards, candles and teddy bears in honor of the officers. The blank binders are for mourners to write comments about each officer.

BY LYNN THOMPSON us,” said Dean Curry, pastor out of prison?” Madden loween night. 2004, and the four slain offi- Seattle Times staff reporter of the Life Center Assembly wrote. Still, he said, he was un- cers had been recruited from How you can help More than 90,000 people of God Church in Tacoma, The Facebook page was prepared for the outpouring across the region, Brewster THE LAKEWOOD POLICE posted messages of condo- which is partnering with the created by an Edmonds high- of sympathy. As many as 15 said. The department grew INDEPENDENT GUILD is lence on a Facebook page Lakewood YMCA for school student who is part of posts per minute were being over the past five years from taking donations for the honoring four slain Lake- Wednesday’s vigil. “When the close-knit family of law logged on the site Monday. 87 to more than 100. families of the four slain wood police officers in the we see them we know they enforcement. Jacob Kimerer, People from as far away as “Before the shooting, we day after their deaths. Sev- are standing between us and 17, is himself a Police Explor- France and Mexico left com- had 103 officers,” he said. police officers. Checks can eral thousand people are ex- harm. When they are at- er who volunteers with the ments. In the United States, “Now it’s 99.” be made to the LPIG pected to line the streets tacked, we feel it’s an attack Edmonds Police Department posts came from Wisconsin, On Monday, Lisa Brenton, Benevolent Fund and sent Wednesday night near the upon ourselves.” and plans a career as an offi- Michigan, Utah and Califor- widow of Officer Timothy to P.O. Box 99579, Lakewood Police Depart- The circumstances of the cer. nia amid thousands from Brenton, expressed her con- Lakewood, WA 98499. ment as part of a candlelight shootings, four officers quiet- His uncle, Clark Kimerer, is Washington state. dolences to the surviving Donations also can be vigil. ly starting their Sunday in a deputy chief of the Seattle A constant stream of calls families. made online at Flags throughout the re- coffee shop, seemed to touch Police Department. His fa- and visitors came into the Calling the aftermath of a www.lpig.us. gion are flying at half-staff, many of those sharing their ther, Scott Kimerer, is chief city of Lakewood and its Po- shooting death a “time of un- The Forza Coffee Company and public officials from reactions online. of the Burien Police Depart- lice Department Monday. bearable grief,” Brenton is- has set up donation boxes across the state have issued “You put your lives on the ment. Mourners left cards and sued a statement that said in at its stores. Donations also expressions of sympathy. line for us every single day. Jacob’s father said his son flowers outside the Police part, “Our hearts ache for the The unprecedented assas- You wear those uniforms for understands the dangers of Department. families of Sergeant Mark can be made at the Forza sination of the officers — just our safety and no other rea- being a police officer: “He’s Jeff Brewster, Lakewood’s Renninger, Officer Tina Gris- Web site, www.forzacoffee a month after a Seattle police son,” wrote Darla Langdon. already been to four officer communications director, wold, Officer Ronald Owens company.com. officer was gunned down as Jean Madden of Wisconsin funerals, and he’s just 17 said he’d received calls from and Officer Gregory Rich- Candlelight prayer vigil he sat in his squad car — has expressed outrage that the years old.” a New York police officer and ards. ... Their families are A prayer service and prompted an outpouring of suspected gunman had been Jacob Kimerer said he was a Long Island officer who painfully aware of the risks candlelight walk will be shock, grief and outrage released from prison in one moved to create the Face- both want to fly out to attend that are inherent in their held at 7 p.m. Wednesday from people throughout the state and jail in another de- book page after seeing a sim- the memorial service on their loved ones’ chosen profes- region and around the spite a long criminal record, ilar page honoring Timothy own time. sion.” at the Lakewood YMCA, 9715 Lakewood Drive S.W. world. including several . Brenton, the Seattle police The Lakewood Police De- Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or “Those officers represent “Why in thunder was he let officer who was slain Hal- partment was formed in [email protected] Manhunt creates unease for black men BY MARC RAMIREZ / Seattle Times staff reporter ple’s constitutional rights aren’t being violat- As a manhunt for the suspect in the slay- ed.” ings of four Lakewood police officers spilled By Monday morning, Clemmons’ photo — into Seattle’s streets late Sunday night, Oscar the broad shoulders, arching eyebrows and Eason Jr. talked with a friend about possible distinctive mole — was everywhere, on the consequences for African Americans. Internet, on TV, on the dashboards of Wash- Eason, chairman of Washington’s African ington state troopers. “I feel sorry for every American Affairs Commission, came to one husky black male with a mole on his face,” painful conclusion: For African-American trooper Cliff Pratt said. males between ages 20 and 50, he said, “I Such concerns are exactly what communi- would caution them to be very careful and ty leaders worry about, especially in the only travel when necessary.” wake of the Oct. 31 of Seattle police While expressing condolences to those af- Officer Timothy Brenton. Officers are pre- fected by the slayings, African-American dictably worried for their safety, while ten- leaders nonetheless are concerned that the sions are heightened in the community. furious manhunt for Maurice Clemmons, 37, And in the days after Brenton’s murder, be- the man believed responsible for the crime, fore Tukwila’s Christopher Monfort — who could raise the potential for racial profiling. has a mixed white-and-black racial back- Few community leaders have heard direct ground — was charged, the local NAACP complaints. James Kelly, president of the Ur- chapter did receive racial-profiling com- ban League of Metropolitan Seattle, said one plaints. “The whole community did feel tar- person had complained to his agency about geted,” Bible said. excessive police monitoring. “I am sur- “God knows what goes on in an officer’s prised,” he said of that call, but added that he mind,” Eason said. “... With these incidents understands the position police are in. in Seattle, there is some cause to be cautious “Our hearts go out to the department, the for your own protection.” community and the family, especially the But even as racial-profiling concerns are children that have lost their fathers and voiced, he added, “we know these officers MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES mother,” said James Bible, president of the are out there protecting our community. Seattle / King County chapter of the NAACP. As the hunt for a suspected cop killer intensified, Seattle police question and search a That’s a message we try to get across.” man on Maynard Avenue South Monday afternoon. “I feel sorry for every husky black At the same time, he said, “as a civil-rights Marc Ramirez: 206-464-8102 or organization, we do want to make sure peo- male with a mole on his face,” a state trooper said, regarding the suspect’s appearance. [email protected] b 2 ROP TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 News A7 4 POLICE OFFICERS SLAIN

❝It was unlucky for us, lucky for him. But his luck is about to run out.” ED TROYER Pierce County sheriff’s detective

only to learn the vehicle had been sold two months ago. A Metro bus driver thought he had spotted Clemmons on a route in the University Dis- trict, prompting officers to swarm the University of Washington campus. Late Monday afternoon, Renton police, members of the Pierce County sheriff’s SWAT unit and other officers surrounded a house in the 13000 block of Renton Av- enue South. Though Clem- mons wasn’t in the house, of- ficers questioned some of his relatives, according to a law- enforcement source. That relative also is suspected of helping Clemmons dodge ar- rest, the source said. The search of the Renton house was the fourth tactical operation conducted by po- lice Monday, Troyer said. Authorities were executing several search warrants, he said. He did not elaborate on the other operations. Close to Clemmons Seattle police seemingly CLIFF DESPEAUX / THE SEATTLE TIMES were close to capturing The flash from the muzzle of a device used to flush out a suspect is employed in a search for Clemmons after an hourslong standoff late Sunday and Clemmons on Sunday night early Monday in the Leschi neighborhood. No one was found inside the home, and the hunt continues for the suspect in the slayings of four officers. as they surrounded his aunt’s house in Leschi. Police have confirmed he showed up at the house on a dead-end street on a hill above Lake Washington — but Troyer said he suspects Clemmons saw officers rounding up people who had helped him get roughly 40 miles north of the crime scene and slipped away before the area could be contained. “It was unlucky for us, lucky for him. But his luck is about to run out,” Troyer said. KEVIN P. CASEY / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Clemmons has a lengthy Schoolchildren peer out of a school bus as a police criminal history, including at officer explains that their grade school is closed. least five felony convictions in Arkansas and at least eight felony charges in Washing- < Manhunt | FROM A1 ton. He was granted clem- ency by former Arkansas Gov. LOTS OF LEADS, BUT SUSPECT STILL FREE Mike Huckabee nine years ago over the protests of pros- Law-enforcement officials believe Clemmons ecutors. More recently, the ex-con was released from the has been sheltered by family, friends MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES Pierce County Jail last week, Members of the Seattle Police Department search Rizal Park, between 12th Avenue South even though he faced eight anybody and everybody sus- through more than 350 tips, and Interstate 5. Several operations to locate Clemmons on Monday came up empty. felony charges, including a pected of aiding and abetting Troyer said. child-rape charge that carries Clemmons. He said they are Acquaintances of Clem- a possible life sentence. conducting operations in mons also have told police By 6 p.m. Monday, sheriff’s several cities. that he told them Saturday officials had reopened Steele “We think his network is night that “he was going to Street South and moved the running out,” Troyer said. take out a group of cops,” flowers, balloons and stuffed Not only that, but eyewit- telling them to “watch the animals that had been left at nesses have confirmed that news,” but they “wrote it off a nearby gas station and re- Clemmons was wounded in as crazy talk,” Troyer said. assembled the memorial out- the shootings and that his Investigators have faced side the Forza Coffee Com- wound was bleeding, Troyer plenty of frustration, disap- pany store where the four of- said. Blood was found in pointment and delay in their ficers had been fatally shot. Clemmons’ white Chevrolet hunt for the gunman. One Killed were Sgt. Mark Ren- pickup, found abandoned in man called 911 Sunday and ninger, 39; and officers Ron- the parking lot of a Parkland said he was the shooter — a ald “Ronnie” Owens, 37; Ti- grocery Sunday. bogus claim. Another man na Griswold, 40; and Greg- Medics and doctors who called his girlfriend and rela- ory Richards, 42. have consulted with police tives, also claiming responsi- say an untreated gunshot bility and asking for help to How crime unfolded wound can change dramati- get out of the woods where According to police and cally in a day or two — either he said he was hiding. witnesses, the three officers through blood loss or infec- That man was booked into and their sergeant — mem- tion, Troyer said. the Pierce County Jail early bers of the same Lakewood Troyer said Clemmons’ sis- Monday on investigation of patrol unit — were seated in- ter was detained Sunday obstructing police. Lt. Dave side the coffee shop Sunday night after she was “less than McDonald of the Puyallup morning, their marked patrol forthcoming” about the aid Police Department, acting as cars parked outside. she offered her brother after a law-enforcement spokes- Around 8:15 a.m., a man the shootings. He said she man, said that hoax cost in- who has been identified as drove Clemmons to Seattle’s vestigators precious time and Clemmons walked into the Leschi neighborhood that resources. cafe, passing the officers and night and bandaged his There was more frustration a handful of customers to wounds, but didn’t admit to Monday as various tips and stand at the counter. A baris- it immediately. sightings in and around Se- ta asked for his order, but he Police believe Clemmons attle turned into dead ends: just stared at her. He opened took off after seeing police blood in a phone booth in Ra- his coat, and the barista, a talking to his sister outside a venna. Bloody gauze found woman in her early 20s, Leschi home where she in the middle of the street in spotted a gun in his waist- dropped him off, Troyer said. the Chinatown International band. She grabbed her co- In an interview Sunday District. Police also searched worker and ran out the back night with The Seattle Monday for a possible get- MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES door as the man opened fire. Times, she said she had dri- away car that reportedly be- Seattle police officers and an agent from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Two of the four officers ven up from Tacoma to see if longed to Clemmons’ wife, Firearms (ATF) search the Leschi neighborhood along Lake Washington Boulevard. didn’t have time to react and she could help police per- were “flat-out executed,” suade her brother to come Troyer said Sunday. One offi- out of the Leschi home. cer was able to stand before Clemmons, 37, remains a being shot and falling to the dangerous threat to police: ground. The fourth officer Detectives have learned he fought with the shooter, has access to any number of struggling with him and weapons, including long squeezing off a few rounds guns, rifles, shotguns and from his service weapon be- handguns, Troyer said. He fore that officer also was shot declined to elaborate. and killed. “He’s armed, he’s wound- Clemmons apparently ed and he knows there are dropped one handgun dur- warrants for four counts of ing the fight with the officer. murder” that have been is- The handgun was found by sued for his arrest, Troyer investigators on the floor in- said of Clemmons. side the coffee shop, leading investigators to conclude Hundreds of tips that Clemmons was armed Since the ambush slayings with more than one weapon, of the four officers as they sat according to McDonald of doing paperwork at a Forza the Puyallup department. Coffee Company store before Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or starting their shifts Sunday [email protected] morning, hundreds of tips Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 have poured in from the pub- or [email protected] ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES Information from Seattle Times lic. After weeding out the staff reporter Charles E. Brown crackpots and hoaxes, detec- University of Washington and Seattle police officers cross 15th Avenue Northeast after a futile search for Clemmons in and Times archives is included in tives actively are filtering Cowen Park. The park and some neighborhood streets were closed temporarily. this report A8 News TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 1 ROP 4 POLICE OFFICERS SLAIN

no show. Three hours later, Lindquist, Pierce County’s at the close of the court’s day, chief prosecutor, was asked he still was nowhere to be Monday if he believes Arkan- found. sas dumped Clemmons on A judge later issued a Washington. bench warrant, calling for Only Arkansas can answer Clemmons’ arrest for failure that question, Lindquist said, to appear. but he added: “You could Clemmons was on the run draw that inference.” — with seven felony charges A spokeswoman for the Ar- already filed against him and kansas prison system told the another on the way, given Arkansas Democrat-Gazette what had happened in his that the state issued a second house just one day before. warrant in October that would have allowed Clem- July 1 mons to be held without bail. Clemmons wound up be- Penner said if a second ing arrested seven weeks lat- warrant was issued, no one er, on July 1, when he told him. showed up in court, in appar- ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES ent hopes of having the Nov. 23 Maurice Clemmons took his rage out on his Parkland neighborhood, throwing rocks at houses, cars and people, accord- bench warrant thrown out. In Washington, the courts ing to police records. He was charged with child rape after molesting a young female relative in his house in May. The next day, prosecutors had to determine bail for the charged him with second-de- two sets of charges Clem- gree rape of a child, accusing mons faced. “If you post booking bail, LAKEWOOD him of molesting his 12-year- Phil Sorensen, a deputy

< Rage S. TACOMA WAY TACOMA Forza Coffee Company you can walk out without see- old relative in May. prosecutor in Pierce County, FROM A1 5 Gunman kills four ing a judge. And that appears Lakewood police officers. Prosecutors also filed a said his office asked for 4 DAYS IN MAY SET to be exactly what he did,” Suspect identified as separate charge on July 2 — $100,000 bail in the assault said Pierce County Prosecut- Maurice Clemmons. this one accusing Clemmons case — an amount higher STAGE FOR TRAGEDY ing Attorney Mark Lindquist. of being a fugitive from Ar- than normal for such charges 512 PACIFIC AVE. S. “When it’s booking bail, it STEELE ST. S. kansas. They cited the chain — based on Clemmons’ histo- Clemmons’ wife says doesn’t take into account par- 116TH ST. S. of events involving the al- ry. The judge, John McCar- ticular details like somebody’s leged assault on the deputies thy, set the bail at $40,000, T he was acting ‘crazy’ U history. And that’s problemat- McChord Air LE as evidence that Clemmons Sorensen said. LAKE RD ic ... it’s one of the dangers of Force Base SPANAWAY LOOP RD. S. . S. Clemmons’ home had violated his parole in Ar- In the child-rape case, viewed in isolation, trumped booking bail.” Last known residence, kansas. If sent back, he faced prosecutors wanted a long and disturbing pattern If his history had been tak- PARKLAND where he was accused of the prospect of being re- $200,000 bail, Lindquist of warning signs. en into account, Clemmons creating a disturbance, turned to prison for years. said. The judge, Thomas Fel- M ILITAR As a result, Clemmons would have fared poorly. He Y RD punching an officer, and But July 22, the Arkansas nagle, set bail at $150,000. . S. walked out of jail Nov. 23. A had a criminal record dating a day later, raping a Department of Community Lindquist said he thought 0 1 12-year-old relative week later, he was on the run to his teen years, with at least Spanaway Correction notified Pierce both judges set bail too low. again — this time accused of five prior felony convictions MILE Lake County, by letter, that Arkan- “As prosecutors, we face shooting and killing four in Arkansas. THE SEATTLE TIMES sas had no interest in taking an uphill battle walking into Lakewood police officers in a Aladdin Bail Bonds posted Clemmons back. court,” he said. “We have to Parkland coffee shop, in one Clemmons’ bond on Mother’s But Clemmons continued was building. But Clemmons “Arkansas is releasing its show that the defendant is a of the most horrific crimes in Day, and Clemmons walked to assault the 12-year-old un- ran away before deputies hold on the offender and will danger to the community Puget Sound history. free. Defendants typically til she cried herself to sleep, could stop him, and a K-9 not extradite at this time,” and a flight risk.” pay 10 percent of the bond, police records say. Clem- unit could not pick up his the letter said. “The subject Neither judge could be May 9 with the bonding company mons, still naked, soon woke trail. has pending charges in the reached for comment Mon- It may have been an argu- on the hook for the rest. her and demanded she join Child Protective Services state of Washington and ap- day. ment — precipitated by his Stephen Kreimer, execu- him and his wife, Nicole (CPS), alerted by deputies, propriate action will be taken In the end, Clemmons wife’s discovery that he had a tive director of the Profes- Smith, in their bedroom. also investigated the incident once the charges have been needed to come up with child with another woman — sional Bail Agents of the Clemmons referred to him- and substantiated the sexual- adjudicated.” $190,000 bail. that set Clemmons off. United States, said he doesn’t self as Jesus and Smith, na- abuse complaint. A CPS Arkansas rescinded its Penner, the deputy prose- Whatever it was, Clem- think “booking bail” is com- ked and wrapped in a bed- spokeswoman said the agen- warrant. Had Arkansas not cuting attorney, said Clem- mons took his rage out on his mon nationwide. In most sheet, as Eve. Smith begged cy closed the case in October done so, Clemmons would mons was turned away by Parkland neighborhood, states, he said, defendants her husband to let the girl go, because Smith and the young have been held without bail two bail-bond agencies, throwing rocks at houses, must wait until they’ve seen and Clemmons complied, the relative went to counseling on the alleged parole viola- based on his history of failing cars and people, according to a magistrate or court repre- girl later told police. and Clemmons was in jail. tion. to appear in court. But then police records. sentative before being re- But Clemmons wasn’t fin- Stephen Penner, a deputy Clemmons found a taker: Jail A woman who was visiting leased on bail. ished. At about 4 a.m., he as- May 12 prosecuting attorney in Sucks Bail Bonds, based in family that day says she was sembled his family back in Clemmons was supposed Pierce County, said he sees Chehalis. leaving the neighborhood May 11 the living room and demand- to show up in Pierce County Arkansas’ decision to leave At 8:20 p.m. Nov. 23, bond when a man hurled a land- After his release on May ed they strip naked. He Superior Court May 12, to be Clemmons to Washington was posted for Clemmons. scaping brick through the 10, Clemmons’ mental state talked about how “beautiful arraigned on charges stem- this way: “There’s a built-in That same night he walked driver-side window of her degenerated, with his wife it was that they were sharing ming from the rocks and incentive to not following out of the Pierce County Jail. SUV. saying he was acting “crazy,” the moment.” punches he was accused of through. In a way, the more Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or “I was just in shock,” said according to a Pierce County Pierce County sheriff’s throwing three days before. violent they are, the less you [email protected]; the woman, who asked not sheriff’s report. deputies arrived at about By now, prosecutors had want them in your communi- Jonathan Martin: 206-464-2605 to be identified because At about 1 a.m. May 11, 5:30 a.m. after a family filed a formal set of charges ty.” or [email protected]. Clemmons remains at large. Clemmons appeared naked member called 911. With accusing Clemmons with “The look in his eyes is some- in his living room and de- Clemmons now gone from two counts of assault and thing I will not forget.” manded that two young the house, the family de- five for felony malicious mis- Help Save Animals’ Lives Donate your Car, Truck, RV or Boat The woman called 911 female relatives — ages 11 scribed his recent erratic be- chief. Tax Deduction to the full extent allowed. only after rounding a corner and 12 — sit on an ottoman havior, including his state- But at 1:30 p.m., when a FREE Paperwork. FREE Pick up. a safe distance away. and fondle him, one of the ments that the world was court official polled the Call: 1-800-961-6119 A Pierce County sheriff’s girls later told police. They coming to an end and he was courtroom gallery to see who or log on: www.NWCDS.com deputy responded to the dis- obeyed, the girl said, because “going to fly to heaven.” was there, Clemmons was a turbance at 12:45 p.m. Out- they were “scared.” The 11- Acting on a tip from Smith, side Clemmons’ home, the year-old soon fled, and deputies saw Clemmons deputy encountered two of wasn’t seen for days. nearby, at a second house he Clemmons’ cousins. When the deputy tried go- ing into the house in search Why Paint When of Clemmons, one cousin Find the gifts on grabbed the deputy’s wrist. A struggle followed, during You Can Insulate? which Clemmons emerged from the house and punched INSULATED Qualifi es for Fed the deputy in the face. Clem- Income Tax Credit everyone’s lists. mons also assaulted a second $ deputy who arrived to help, 00! 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BREATHLESS IN LESCHI — Tense times for Leschi area Clemmons’ diagnosis: stress AND IT’S NOT THE VIEW BY MAUREEN O’HAGAN dence of disturbance.” He psychologists, “I went to a House involved in police AND NICK PERRY Seattle Times staff reporters told them he was married, counselor and then things stop and honk for her stakeout Sunday night. that he ran a landscaping died down.” That counselor mother, Aridell Mitchell? When Maurice Clemmons business and that he owned gave him a diagnosis of Did he glance into the E. JEFFERSON ST. was accused of molesting a five rental properties. He “Brief Psychotic Disorder.”

room where her father, Nor- BROADWAY child and assaulting a sher- said he didn’t use drugs or Asked if he had thoughts E. YESLER WAY 29TH AVE. man Mitchell, used to write . iff’s deputy in May, he was alcohol, and that until short- of harming others, he said: 5 S

. D sermons for his services at V acting bizarrely enough that ly after the incidents in May, “Sometimes I think about it. L

B Officers shot Goodwill Baptist Church? N many suspected he had a he’d never had mental- ... Everybody thinks the po- O

Oct. 31 T G

“He was right there,” she N mental illness. health treatment. He also lice can’t lie.” But when

Lake I H

0 0.5 S said, nodding toward East 90 A But when psychologists was able to explain court pressed, he had no specific

Washington

W

. Superior Street, where police K evaluated him in October to procedures. targets in mind. Nicole Brodeur MILE L Seattle Times staff stood in front of a house, Source: ESRI, TeleAtlas determine if he was compe- But in May, Clemmons In the end, evaluators THE SEATTLE TIMES tent to stand trial, they saw told evaluators, he’d been couldn’t come up with a di- columnist waiting for Clemmons all night. “But I think it’s God no evidence that he wasn’t, hallucinating about “people agnosis for Clemmons, It feels anxious up watching over us.” lock the door behind me. according to the evaluation drinking blood and people other than stress. However, Someone has to be watch- obtained by The News Trib- eating babies,” the report they did say his violence at here. Everyone’s on ing, for there is so much pain Nicole Brodeur’s column appears une. said. This went on for about an early age, including rob- Tuesday and Friday. Reach her at edge. just beyond this place. 206-464-2334 or Clemmons answered the three weeks, during which bery convictions, suggested A woman pulls up beside I left to join the crowd out- [email protected]. evaluators’ questions calmly time he wasn’t sleeping or he had an “increased risk for me as I walk down East Yes- side. As I did, I heard Nichols She’s looking up Psalm 91. and rationally, with “no evi- eating well. But, he told the future dangerous behavior.” ler Way. “Did they get him?” she asks. It’s clear she wants to know now. Before I can answer, an- other woman headed in the other direction yells out her own window. “You’re blocking my view of the street!” she barks, then guns the engine and pulls away. You can forgive the resi- dents of Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood for being a lit- tle short-fused. The views across Lake Washington may take your breath away, but recent events have made it hard to breathe easily. To sleep soundly. And to remember what this place used to be. Just weeks ago, on Oct. 31, two Seattle police officers were ambushed while sitting at the intersection of East Yesler Way and 29th Avenue South. Officer Timothy Bren- ton was killed, and his part- ner, Britt Sweeney, was in- jured. Christopher Monfort, 41, has been charged in the shootings. On Sunday, police de- scended on a house several blocks east, where they be- lieved Maurice Clemmons sought refuge with a relative after allegedly ambushing and killing four Lakewood police officers in a strip-mall coffee shop that morning. Although the house turned out to be empty, it made for a tense night of locked doors, blocked streets and helicop- ters clattering overhead. On Monday morning, classes were canceled at Les- chi Elementary. SWAT team members used the school parking lot as a staging area. TV trucks lined the street while clusters of cameras stood on a few corners. And Ethel Nichols, 66, wondered what happened to the place where her family has lived since 1959. “It has always been so wonderful,” she said. “But lately, it’s more than I can think about. Like being in a Third World country.” We stood in front of the picture window of her house, watching SWAT officers re- move their bulletproof vests. “Four weeks ago we were up the hill, crying about that officer being killed,” Nichols said. “And no sooner do they get the flowers cleaned up, then here we are again. Up all night long, the phone ringing. “I just put a pillow over my head.” The family runs a child- care center in the basement. Only four parents brought their children by Monday. Nichols’ sister, Fannie, let them in and locked the door. “They’re on the computer; they don’t know what’s going on,” Nichols said. “They’re happy.” All morning, cars crawled up and down the street to take in the scene. “This whole place has changed, and why?” Nichols asked. “Why is this happen- ing?” She remembered a family named Clemmons. The par- ents were friends with her parents. She wondered aloud if Maurice Clemmons had sat near her in church, or if he had driven past her house the previous night. Did he race past the bus stop where the driver used to