Ex-Con Maurice Clemmons Sought for Questioning in the Murder of Four Police Officers at Washington Coffee Shop, Mike Huckabee Granted Him Clemency Nine Years Ago

UPDATED 6:32 A.M. Police surround home in Seattle, about 30 miles from crime scene.  Police say a suspect is holed up at a Seattle house, wounded and possibly dead. Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer says negotiators are still trying to communicate with Maurice Clemmons. 

UPDATED 11:04 P.M. The judge associated with this case is Judge Kitty-Ann van Doorninck. Shame on you judge for letting a violent criminal out on the streets even though he had an open warrant in the state of Arkansas. The prosecutor, Angelica McGaha, failed to get this man kept behind bars where he belonged.

Have you seen Maurice Clemmons? The 37-year old Tacoma man is being sought by law enforcement in the execution-style shooting of Mark Renninger and three other police officers at the Forza Coffee shop near Parkland, Wa., Sunday morning. Court records show that Clemmons, who was recently released from prison, has an extensive criminal record in Pierce County and Arkansas. He is wanted in Arkansas and faces eight criminal charges in Washington state. There is a connection to this man and then-governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, who commuted his sentence nine years ago over the protest of prosecutors. This man's criminal history dates back to when he was 17 years old.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has identified a person of interest in the November 29, 2009, murder of four Lakewood Police officers. The person of interest is Maurice Clemmons, a 37 year old black male from the Parkland area of Pierce County. Clemmons is 5'8" tall, 235 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, and a mole on his left cheek.

Clemmons has extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft. He has also recently been arrested and charged in Pierce County for Assault 3rd on a Police Officer and for Rape of a Child.

Clemmons should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. If the public has any information on his whereabouts, call any tips to the Sheriff's Department tip line at 1-866-977-2362. Source: The News Tribune

If you encounter this man, who is described as a black man in his 20s or 30s, between 5-feet-7 inches and 5-feet-10-inches, and ran north on Steele Street South after the shooting. He was wearing a black coat over a gray hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans, do not hesitate to contact law enforcement immediately. Anybody with information is asked to call 253-591-5959 or 866-977-2362. I will update this story with a picture of Maurice Clemmons as soon as one is available.

UPDATE#1:  The information is coming in fast and furious on this criminal. Nine years ago, Clemmons was granted clemency by then-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, commuting his lengthy prison sentence over the protestations of prosecutors. If this man is guilty of the horrific murder of four police officers, plus the rape of a child, he will literally become a political liability for Mike Huckabee's aspirations to enter another presidential campaign.

Clemmons' criminal history includes at least five felony convictions in Arkansas and at least eight felony charges in Washington. The record also stands out for the number of times he has been released from custody despite questions about the danger he posed. Clemmons had been in jail in Pierce County for the past several months on a pending charge of second-degree rape of a child. He was released from custody just six days ago, even though he was wanted on a fugitive warrant out of Arkansas and was staring at eight felony charges in all out of Washington state. Source: The Seattle Times

Which judge signed off on his release from prison even though he was wanted on a fugitive warrant? That is unconscionable. When will judges learn that you cannot reform a career criminal who has a violent history. He should have been incarcerated for life. 

Photo credit: Maurice Clemmons, The Seattle Times