Suspected Cop Killer Maurice Clemmons Killed by Police After Two-Day Manhunt

[jefferson_dem]

Source: ABC News

Suspected Cop Killer Maurice Clemmons Killed by Police After Two-Day Manhunt
Police: Clemmons Had Help Evading Capture After Executing Four Lakewood Police Officers
By NEAL KARLINSKY and SARAH NETTER
Dec. 1, 2009—

Police in Seattle have shot and killed the man suspected of executing four Lakewood, Wash., police officers.

ABC News has confirmed that Maurice Clemmons was killed after police followed leads to a city address where he was hiding. Details of the early-morning confrontation weren't immediatley available.

Clemmons had been the focus of an intense two-day manhunt that included a systematic raid of the homes of his friends and family, who were believed to have been helping him evade capture.

Police said Monday that Clemmons was believed to have been armed while on the run, possibly with several guns. Calling him "dangerous," they said, was an understatement.

Pierce County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ed Troyer told ABC News Seattle affiliate KOMO-TV that the raids Monday were being carried out "to collect evidence against him and against those helping him evade us."

Clemmons, 37, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen in a brief shootout with the Lakewood officers he ultimately killed as they sat in a coffee shop Sunday morning, preparing for their next shift.

<SNIP>

Clemmons had been released from custody six days ago, bonding out despite an outstanding warrant from Arkansas, where he was pardoned by then Gov. Mike Huckabee nine years ago after serving 11 years of a potential 60-year sentence.

<SNIP>

Read more: http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/lakewood-cop-killer-suspect-maurice-clemmons-killed-police/story?id=9213986

[deminks]

1. Here is one link.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/01/maurice-clemmons-killed-s_n_374951.html

[Withywindle]

2. Oh, what a pity

NOT.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. I was actually hoping they'd bring him in alive.

With scum like this, it helps to hear their motivations in their own words. A little sunlight disinfectant, you might say.

[MissB]

11. He was apparently pretty whacked out - talking of end times

And being god/Jesus.

So his motivations wouldn't really be clear, except that he was pretty screwed up in the head.

[SergeStorms]

13. It'll save the taxpayers untold amounts of money.......

plus the horror of having the victims' families relive this nightmare during court proceedings. I'm all for due process, but sometimes justice takes a shortcut for the better. Cop killers are some of the lowest people on the planet, in my opinion.

Another fundie gone berserk. Go figure. :eyes:

[marshall]

28. Seattle takes care of Little Rock's dirty work

Why was somebody in jail for child rape walking the streets???

[Flaneur]

57. Because he paid a $15,000 cash bail.

[grasswire]

90. who paid the bond for Clemmons?

I wanted to know that yesterday.

Anyone know?

[SeattleGirl]

115. I think I heard that the family did.

I haven't heard much more on that detail though.

[maxsolomon]

91. bail was 150K

you put up 10% cash.

"Jail Sucks Bail Bonds" got him out - no shit, that's really the name.

[quakerboy]

110. So how does the bail bond system work?

are they just out that money?

[maxsolomon]

123. he signed over the note to a house he "bought" with a loan from the estate he bought it from

worth 250K. i think the court gets the 190K (that was the actual bail, with 40K on there for assaulting a cop) from Jail Sucks, and then Jail Sucks gets the house from Mr. Clemmons's estate.

[ManiacJoe]

125. In this case the whole thing might be a wash.

Assuming he died before the trial date that he was on bond for, the trial would be canceled along with the bail requirements. The bond company would keep the 10% cash they got up front, while all collateral is returned to the owners.

[quakerboy]

128. That seems counter intuitive

The whole bail bonds system seems a bit jacked up, from the little I know of it.

[ManiacJoe]

133. This case is not the common outcome.

The purpose of bail is to allow you to be out of jail while ensuring that you show up for trial.

For example, the judge sets the amount at $200000. The prisoner comes up with that in cash or stays in jail. When the prisoner shows up at trial, he gets back the money. If he does not show up, the court keeps the money.

The bondsman offers the deal of fronting the money for a 10% non-refundable fee plus 90% collateral. If the prisoner shows up for trial the collateral is returned to the owner. If the prisoner does not show up, the bond company pays the court the $200000 and keeps the collateral to cover the costs.

Since both cases normally result in a third party financially assisting the prisoner, the third party has an interest in making sure that the prisoner does arrive in court. In the case of the bondsman, he will usually hire bounty hunters to find and return the prisoner since that route is usually much cheaper than paying the court.

Either way, if the court date is no longer needed, the bail money or collateral is returned to the payer.

In the old days, if person A bonded out prisoner B and B did not show for trial, person A would serve the prison time for B after the trial.

[progressivebydesign]

62. Washington's laws are abysmal in that regard.

They were saying that "Rape 2" is basically a walk with a later court date. And all offenses outside of Murder 1 are "bailable", which is total bullshit. I'm liberal, but the system up here is ridiculously lax.

[marshall]

74. Hopefully this will be a wake up call for reform

Some people should just be locked up and the key thrown away where nobody--not a "sympathetic" judge or a governor looking for re-election or a parole board--will ever find it.

Ever.

[Flaneur]

80. Bail has been part of our system since day one.

While bail may be set too low in some cases, in many others it is set ridiculously high. A huge proportion of people in county jails haven't been convicted of anything--they're just too poor to get out on bail before trial.

[Flaneur]

58. Probably not a "fundie."

God/Jesus and other religious icons seem to pop up with some frequency among the seriously mentally ill.

[superconnected]

46. after they already let him out twice?

[Garam_Masala]

106. There is nothing worth hearing from a

whacked out mind.

The tax payers just saved over a million dollars by his demise.

[tavalon]

33. No need for one of those pesky expensive trials

Look, he probably did it, but we have a justice system.

[FarCenter]

38. If the courts don't protect society, the police will

So reform the court system to keep dangerous felons incarcerated and this won't happen as often.

If the courts don't do their job, there will be more and more clamor for a more effective police state.

[superconnected]

72. Best post on the thread!

[superconnected]

47. We also have a system where if you pull a gun on a cop you get shot.

Guess what he was doing at the time.

[SOS]

59. That's the standard

Supreme Court decision Tennessee v. Garner.
"Deadly force is justified against a fleeing suspect only if a police officer reasonably believes that he or she poses a substantial danger of causing death or serious bodily harm if not immediately apprehended."

[progressivebydesign]

63. Bingo! That cop was lucky to get the first draw on the guy. n/t

[GreenStormCloud]

76. He refused to surrender. What do YOU do then?

BTW, more than probably did it. He had a gunshot wound to the abdomen from one of the officers that he killed. His pickup was found with blood stains and a gun in it. He also had one of the officer's gun. He did it.

The abdomen wound would have been fatal if he had continued to refuse to go to a hospital.

[truthisfreedom]

4. I hope this guy was the guy.

He's dead. No statement from the dead.

[tazkcmo]

7. Well, if he had a hole in his stomach

pretty sure he'd be pretty easy to identify. He suffered a gun shot to the abdomen in a brief shootout with the four officers he eventually killed.

[depakid]

42. Painful way to spend your last hours, too

Gut shot.

[grytpype]

87. And he had a gun he took from one of the cops he killed.

And he was trying to draw it to kill another officer, who beat him on the draw.

The justice system couldn't stop this animal, but a fast-thinking officer just did.

[progressivebydesign]

66. umm.. the bullet in his stomach from the murders is statement enuff..

along with the fact that he was AIMING the handgun of one of the murdered officer's at the cop. I'd say that's enough of a statement.

[quiller4]

104. He had one of the Lakewood police officer's guns on him and

a stomach wound suffered in the Sunday morning assault.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Meh

This was never really a national news story. Slow week.

[BR_Parkway]

6. How often does someone just execute 4 police officers? I think that's

the part that makes it a national story.

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. I guess we'll have to disagree on that

It's certainly a local story of some importance.

[jberryhill]

41. Someone that dangerous on the run...

...is of at least regional concern. It's not a local story.

[superconnected]

48. wow. I guess you are either pretty biased or have no idea what makes national news.

Or even world news. I'll assume bias against cops.

[alcibiades_mystery]

65. Oh, is that what you assume

Wow. That's nice for you.

[marshall]

27. A hate crime?

All of the officers were white--I wonder if there will be speculation that he targeted them because of their race?

[stlsaxman]

9. Surely Mike Huckabee agrees with you on this...

"Meh", indeed!

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. I have no idea what you're talking about

[polmaven]

26. As the story makes clear -

Arkansas Governor Huckabee commuted the prisoner's sentance 9 years ago, after he had served a fraction of a 60 year sentence. I think that alone makes it news worthy.

[alcibiades_mystery]

34. Meh

[superconnected]

51. I think understanding that you have "no idea" is a great step for you.

[robo50]

21. Next time four of your brothers and sisters are killed in a gun ambush..

we'll make sure it doesn't make the national news.

Or maybe you were kidding, I sure hope I just missed your sarcasm.

[alcibiades_mystery]

24. You're speaking metaphorically, of course

Yes?

[superconnected]

50. The guy you're dealing with isn't worth your breath. He's coming off more and more

as someone who would sympathize with the killer than someone who understands execution style cop killings usually makes world news when it happens in any country.

[alcibiades_mystery]

64. That's vile and wholly unsupported

You're coming off as somebody who makes up shit and acts like a child.

[superconnected]

71. Dude, look in the mirror.

All you come off as is a cop hater.

Because of the lack of anything else in your responses, I'm putting you on ignore.

[alcibiades_mystery]

81. That's simply false

You lack the ability to make a case, so you throw out stupid accusations without merit. Of course you then go on ignore, because you're a baby who can't support his or her case. How does anything I've said here or elsewhere suggest i hate cops? That's a stupid, vile, and completely unsupportable assertion. You're a coward.

[progressivebydesign]

Wow.. you're soooo cool and urbane, and above it all.

You're embarrassing yourself with this faux attitude of nonchalance. "Meh", my teen daughter uses that expression. Sheesh.

Four police officers were executed, the monster that killed them was on the loose, and nearly killed another officer. But that's not news to you.. wow.. you're soooo cool.

not.

[alcibiades_mystery]

82. Oh boy

What's with the aggression. I don't think it's a national news story. This warrants the personal attack?

:shrug:

[Chemisse]

8. They shot him? What a surprise!

I think it was a foregone conclusion that there would be some 'trouble' arresting him and he would be killed.

[crim son]

14. The guy never had a chance. n/t

[stlsaxman]

99. And Huckabee's people are prolly pleased as punch about that- dead men tell no tales.

[peacetalksforall]

32. Right. Capture, not kill. 46 years ago, the alleged killer of JFK was shot -

there was no criminal trial, just a book - all slanted and lies. We never learned the story.
Assassinations. No criminal trial.
Major destructive wars from an attack. An investigation of the CIA and intelligence agencies. No criminal trial.

Someone is doing things to us and we accept it.

Why not find out why this guy did this, if it was him.

I don't understand this country at all anymore.

So many people want and cheer vengeance. Too often mis-targeted.

On the other hand, if this guy had healed enough and was standing there with twenty guns ready to take out more cops ... there may be another story involved.

If our nation is on its last legs idealistically, I guess it doesn't matter.

Kill, kill, kill - like in the games that can be purchased.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Chemisse]

55. I doubt anybody here would have a problem with that

My concern was that cops get pretty heated up when other cops are killed, lose all objectivity, and just want the person who did it to die. Add to that the probability that there would have been an insanity defense submitted during the trial, further enraging the cops, who would then feel he might 'get away with it'.

I understand it is human nature to react that way. That is why various professionals retract themselves from a professional task involving people they are emotionally attached to - they simply cannot remain objuective.

While this case looks like it ended the way it had to end, I still maintain that if he had been apprehended by a group of cops and never pulled a gun, he would still be just as dead.

[proteus_lives]

68. Really?

"While this case looks like it ended the way it had to end, I still maintain that if he had been apprehended by a group of cops and never pulled a gun, he would still be just as dead."

Every cop in the state is going to react the same way? That's a pretty stereotypical statement.

[Chemisse]

93. Notice that I said,

"I still maintain that if he had been apprehended by a group of cops and never pulled a gun, he would still be just as dead."

A group of cops.

I don't think every single cop in the northwest would simply shoot the guy, but I think, give the high-pitched hunt, within a group of cops, at least one would shoot unprovoked.

[gateley]

36. I normally would agree with you, but it was a lone cop who shot him. He'd parked

the car and noticed movement behind him. He told the suspect to raise his hands (or claims he did) but he refused. I haven't heard if suspect was going for a weapon but he did have one on him, to no surprise.

So I think if I were a lone cop, we know the suspect is carrying, he'd just shot 4 other cops in cold blood, I'd be all over that trigger, too. Self preservation.

Edit to add: It was around 2 this morning, so it was dark (which in my mind makes it even more dangerous).

[Chemisse]

53. Actually after hearing about these details

I think it was a fully legitimate response.

[progressivebydesign]

70. umm.. he pointed a weapon (one he stole from the dead officer) at the cop.

Would you be asking him to sit down and talk to you? God.. how I would LOVE to have some of you people out doing that work. You'd fucking pee your pants if he turned up behind you with a gun, as it had happened.

[GreenStormCloud]

77. Do you REALLY think that a guy who murders four officers is going to surrender peacefully?

No need for anti-cop conspiracy theories. This guy had already determined that he would not be taken alive.

[Chemisse]

94. How do you know that exactly?

Watch a lot of tv?

We don't know anything about this guy, and since he seemed pretty nutsy, you can't predict his behavior based on logic.

[bsd13]

126. He didn't deserve the benefit of the doubt

and I for one am glad he was shot and killed by one of Seattle's finest.

[Chemisse]

127. I am glad he was killed also

And I think the details of this shooting support it as being appropriate.

[TacoD]

10. Wonder how many bullets they put in him?

Most likely several dozen -- cops tend to do that to those who have killed, or who they think have killed, one of their own.

[louis-t]

45. One cop did not put "several dozen" bullets in the guy.

Sheesh, read the article.

[superconnected]

54. Yeah, I think this is a great time to attack the cops.

Especially, if you are always looking for a reason to and you don't care that a cop killer was pulling a gun on a cop when he got shot. It sure is telling, who you attack.

[Pavulon]

97. enough apparently. Some times you have to jiggle the handle..(nt)

[quiller4]

105. Did you even read the article?

[Supply Side Jesus]

107. Most likely

you are a troll and should go away

[Joe Bacon]

12. Meanwhile the Pre$$titute$ let HUCK SINN off the hook

Amazing to see Bill-0 the clown last night telling ol' HUCK SINN that it wasn't his fault.

Just like he told Mike Dunleavy that Wayne Dumond's antics after he was pardoned by HUCK SINN wasn't his fault, either!

[WriteDown]

25. It was Huck's Willie Horton moment...

that is for sure.

[Turbineguy]

15. In other news...

Charlie Manson said he would support Mike Huckabee running for the Governorship of California.

[bluestateguy]

16. Cleanup in aisle 13!

That trial would have cost the taxpayers a fortune.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. What to do when they surrender? -nt

[superconnected]

73. I was wondering about that myself. The guy would probably be alive if he surrendered.

Unfortunately the guy had a stolen car, and a cop that he killed's gun on him when he was killed. That doesn't sound like this guy was going to turn himself in. How could this end? I doubt Clemons was going to allow himself to be arrested.

[rhett o rick]

17. I believe the "outstanding warrant from Arkansas" was cancelled.

This is a serious issue. Why was the warrant canceled?

[rasputin1952]

19. The use of deadly force should always be tempered w/reason...

When I was in the Army, I often had to tell my guards that the use of deadly force was authorized, but, if possible, we wanted a breathing/talking individual if possible. While I won't shed a tear over this man's death, I still have to wonder, if confronted by police, on a street, why weren't tasers used instead of bullets?

Until the whole story comes out, the # of police officers confronting Clemmons is unknown, why they chose deadly force can be construed from what Clemmons was wanted for, but was deadly forced absolutely the only route that could have been taken? I find it a little disturbing that some officers, might have become judge, jury and executioner; that just doesn't sit right with me.

[gateley]

37. It was a lone police officer -- He'd parked in the neighborhood and noticed

a movement behind his car. He got out of his car, saw Clemmens and told him to show his hands, and Clemmens refused. I don't know whether Clemmens drew a weapon or not. I'm usually cynical when the suspect is killed, but in this case at 2 in the morning, confronting an individual who had killed four fellow officers in cold blood, knowing he was armed, I might be a little quick on the trigger, too. I'd have been scared to death.

[rasputin1952]

84. Thanks...I was waiting for some details...

what I had read was that he was on the corner and police approached him, that would have been different. A lone police officer is a whole different story, in situations like that, there is no time to call for back-up or any of the "niceties" we see on TV so often. Looks like it was the one call he could make at that time...:hi:

[gateley]

102. I heard more details on the local news, don't know if you did:

Apparently he was driving a car that had been reported stolen. I don't know if the police knew he was driving that car or if it was just another stolen vehicle. This policeman saw the car parked at the side of the road, and it was running, so that's when he pulled over, got out of his car and "saw a movement behind him". He recognized Clemmens and told him to stop/raise his hands but said Clemmens started moving around the car (I don't know if it was toward the officer or if he was trying to run). I'm guessing there are more details now since I haven't listened since earlier today.

Also, apparently those who were helping him get away were calling in bogus sightings (which is why we were hearing reports of police all over the city cordoning off areas - it was wild), dropping bloody bandages around different areas (since the police knew he'd been shot when he killed the four). Those people need to really be held accountable for all the trouble they caused. :grr:

[rasputin1952]

103. Wow...I hadn't heard any of that...

I used to live out that way, worked at Valley Medical Center in Renton; was stationed at Ft. Lewis, beautiful country!

I recall the Green river Killer stuff, lived close to where they found a few bodies.

Good to know this cop was on the ball! And that he's OK. As for those who were aiding and abetting Clemmens, they need to be charged and dealt with. I cannot fathom why anyone would want to protect this guy...:grr:

Thanks for the update!

[SeattleGirl]

111. Two of the have already been charged, and they also have a third

one -- who they think was the driver of the get away car -- in jail. He will be formally charged on Wednesday. They will also be arresting others.

That is just beyond me that EVERYBODY (family, friends) was willing to help this asshole seemingly without a thought. There's something wrong there.

Now some of them are crying because they say he had mental problems.

Well, he probably did, but how did hiding him, making false reports, etc. HELP him really? If he had mental problems, he should have been locked up in a psych hospital.

I hope they throw the book at these fuckers.

:grr:

[rasputin1952]

121. He apparently did have mental problems....

Not too many people see themselves as Jesus reincarnated, or think that assaulting a young girl is somehow "OK", or killing people in a diner is "normal".

They should have worked a better angle than protecting this guy after he committed 4 murders; they had to know he did this. One, I could understand, but three! That takes a lot of charismatic ability to get 3 people to aid and abet this guy after what he did.

Thye are going to be in some serious trouble, there is really no excuse for that kind of behavior.

[SeattleGirl]

129. Yep, they ARE in serious trouble, and that's just fine with me.

For the life of me, I just cannot understand helping someone like that in the way they did. I was reading an article today in The Seattle Times, where they were crying and saying, Poor Maurice, he was having a breakdown.

Well guess what, folks? Maybe he was. Hell, he most probably was. But I'm sorry, aiding and abetting a cop killer is still wrong. If they want sympathy, they need to look elsewhere.

[rasputin1952]

132. This may sound cold hearted, but if a family member of mine ...

did the things Clemmens did, I give him up. It is, at least to me, a responsibility to protect society.

When people are killed, the "family ties" thing flies out the window. I believe that protecting family is very important, but there are limits. How many more might have died before these people realized they were wrong in protecting this guy?

[jberryhill]

43. Normally, yes

Someone willing to kill police officers is extraordinarily dangerous.

There are nine children today without a parent.

[rasputin1952]

86. Not to sound crass, but willing to kill anyone makes an

individual exceptionally dangerous. I'm one who does not distinguish between cops, clergy or anything else; to me, murder is murder. I would have liked to see this one in prison for the rest of his life. Not just the murders, but the raping of a girl is horrific as well. The whole sordid story is messed up; I won't shed a tear for this guy, but I'd have liked to know what made him tick...:hi:

[Pavulon]

98. Willing to and required are different. Take your front gate guard duty

if you run the gate at bragg on any given day odds are you will be chased down and scolded, arrested, or get 15ed depending on who you are. The pfc at the bragg gate is probably willing to shoot, but not generally required.

If you run the gate at the Naval Weapons Station near charleston or some place like PANTEX chances are you will get lit up before you hit the barrier.

This guy had police at a high state of readiness by killing four of them. Allowing him the grace to get the drop and putting an officer in reaction mode was not an option.

[Odin2005]

20. Good riddance!

[FarCenter]

29. Good. In this case there is no real question that he was the murderer

They had the truck, the blood in the truck, the gun in the truck used in the killing, the body with the old gunshot wound, and they were picking up his friends and family that were helping him to evade capture.

[24601]

30. He didn't "Execute" four officers - he "Murdered" them. I'm

continually disgusted at the MSM portraying such killings as executions - as if there was a shred of legality. It's up there with "Suicide" bombers instead of "Murder-Suicide" bombers.

[annm4peace]

31. Mental illness or abuse of drugs???

Either way, Many Governor have cut out treatment programs for both.

We have failed as a society and are partly to blame for the death of those police officers and of Mr Clemmons. Shame on our country

[ecstatic]

35. Note that they killed him first, then *found* the gun

and the abdomen wound. Sorry, I'm waiting for the full investigation. I remember cops tried to lie here in Atlanta after killing a 92 year old woman in her own home.

[jberryhill]

44. The abdomen wound was being reported yesterday...

He was known to be injured and bleeding prior to being found.

[SeattleGirl]

79. He already had the wound; one of the officers he murdered shot

Clemmons before he himself died.

I agree with having a full investigation, but from everything I've seen and heard so far, Clemmons was a fucking scumbag who TOLD people on Saturday he was going to go kill some cops so they should watch the news on Sunday.

Sorry, no tears from me.

[SeattleGirl]

85. The wound was dressed with gauze and duct tape. The police

already have some people in custody who have admitted to helping his evade capture, including the driver of the getaway car.

Sorry, but I'm not going with the "cop bad/suspect good" meme.

Sometimes people ARE bad, and if I were that cop and came face to face with the SOB, and he STILL wouldn't give up, I probably would have shot him too.

[Renew Deal]

39. He got off easy

[Xenotime]

40. Police act as judge, jury and executioner. America is a sad place to live in.

[SeattleGirl]

49. Apparently that's what this guy did on Sunday. Is that okay with you?

[superconnected]

56. The only thing I can guess, by the apathy of even finding out what happened, is that

theses guys don't like cops. Usually it's the bad guys who go around being happy when a cop is killed or attacking cops when someone else gets killed before they even know the facts.

[Flaneur]

60. Yes, the anti-police attitudes are disturbing.

We have to ask ourselves why so many people seem to hate the cops.

Some possible explanations:

1. The constant stream of reports of police brutality.

2. The seeming impunity that police officers have.

3. The increasing militarization of police forces. Officer Friendly turned into Darth SWAT.

4. The war on drugs. I'd wager that has alienated huge swathes of nice, white, middle-class people, not to mention several generations of minority inner city dwellers.

5. The senseless gring, grind, grind of the criminal justice system, chewing up people and spitting them out in even worse shape.

[NeoConsSuck]

108. 6. Personal experiences

but you knew that.

[Chemisse]

95. I haven't seen any post that said someone was happy the cops died

I would be really surprised to see that.

[proteus_lives]

67. Yeah, that cop should have let himself become notch number 5 on Clemmon's gun.

:eyes:

[Retired AF Dem]

89. Yes it is a sad place

to have to live with people like you.

[jefflrrp]

92. Xenotime, allow me to contribute a few dollars . . .

to help you move, then.

[Chemisse]

96. All too often that is what happens

But it looks like this shooting was above board, if you look over the details.

[PavePusher]

134. Wow. Your drive-by posts here...

are just as retarded as the ones you leave in the Gungeon.

I think I smell a sock-puppet troll...

[progressivebydesign]

61. I'm glad they killed the monster. the officer that shot him is lucky to be alive.

The dirtbag still had one of the handguns he'd taken from an officer he'd killed, and was coming up behind that officer with the gun... AND after he was shot, he was STILL trying to get the gun on the ground. The sickest thing is that he had scores of people, who knew what he'd done, giving him money, cell phones, rides, and guns. Glad that the police are arresting everyone who helped him out. From what I've read, I am thinking he has sort of a David Koresh thing going on. Considering his family STILL supported him after he raped a 13 year old relative, and all the strange things that had been happening with him, they still supported him. Master manipulator, rapist, murdered, thug, Huckabee's nightmare, is now dead. RIH (rot in hell)

This happened just a few miles from my house.. the past 48 hours have been very tense and emotional for everyone here. Glad he's dead, and glad he didn't take anyone else with him when he went.

You know, I've been fucking amazed by the ignorant comments on some of the Seattle news sites. There are people accusing the police of being unjustified in shooting him, accusing the police of being the cause of all of his criminal behaviors, feeling sorry for him for being shot, calling a conspiracy, etc. Those types of comments really shake my liberal core... and make me wonder if I'm just not liberal enough to call myself liberal anymore. Four of our police officers were murdered, only a few weeks after a Seattle officer was also targeted by a deranged cop-hater, and these idiots expect me to weep for the murderer? Hell, I would have shot the monster myself had I stumbled upon him. Guess that makes me a conservative now?

[DarthCheney]

75. so right

I don't think anyone who isn't in the PNW can understand how freaky this was, how unsettling, how brutal, and senseless. For pete's sake, this guy walked into a coffee shop and just blew away 4 officers sitting at a table. I have been, and always will be, one who wants accountability and scrutiny for our police force, but in this case, I am willing to take their word on it. This has been like a bad sick dream.

[ribrepin]

109. I agree

Living in an out laying area of Seattle Tacoma, I was really freaked out by this especially coming on the heels of last month's cop killing.

I don't know one person in this area who is upset by the killing of the suspect. It sounds like they got the right guy. The get-away driver sounds like a piece of work. He spent 24 years in an Arkansas jail for the murder of two.

I'm glad these people are off the streets.

[SeattleGirl]

112. I hadn't heard about the get away driver being in prison.

Makes sense why the fucker would help Clemmons.

I hope his ass never leaves a cell again.

[ribrepin]

117. Here's the link to the story about the getaway driver

http://www.king5.com/home/Clemmons-accomplices-arrested-charged-by-prosecutors-78266317.html

Detectives say the fourth person they arrested, Darcus Allen, drove the getaway truck for Clemmons after the shooting. Police believe Allen was waiting for Clemmons at a car wash near the coffee shop. He could be charged with murder.

"If he knew that he was driving there for the murder, absolutely. If he knew that this was going to happen and was waiting there, absolutely we will arrest him for murder," said Troyer.

Allen is a former prison mate of Clemmons from his days in Arkansas. Allen was sentenced in 1990 to 25 years in prison for capital murder, but was released on parole in 2004.

I am outraged that these "citizens" were allowed to walk the streets.

[SeattleGirl]

118. Oh my gawd!

This story just gets worse and worse.

Thank you for the link (though it just makes me sick to read this stuff).

[ribrepin]

119. Yeah lovely crowd that was shipped to Washington state after they were given early releases

I wonder if Arkansas brought them out of state bus tickets? :wtf:

[SeattleGirl]

120. I'm starting to wonder too.

This whole thing has disturbed me more than I even want to admit.

[SeattleGirl]

78. I feel much the way you do.

Yes, there are bad cops out there, and yes, they target minorities.

But there ARE bad guys out there too, and Clemmons was one of the worst, IMHO. I'm not shedding any tears over him. And the people who helped him, good fucking gawd! I'm glad they are rounding them up too, including the guy who was the "getaway driver".

Guess I'll have to turn my liberal creds in too.

[proteus_lives]

69. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

[SeattleGirl]

83. Listening to a local talk radio host talk to the prosecuting attorney from Arkansas who

who is pointing the finger at Huckabee for giving Clemmons his get out of jail free card.

Clemmons was not a "model" prisoner either. I wish I had taken notes on what this guy has to say about Clemmons. That was one REALLY bad guy.

[hayu_lol]

88. We have a number of posters on DU who just plain...

hate cops no matter what the cops do. In this case, we had a thread yesterday that showed pics of the dead officers and listed their wives and children left behind.

No one on this thread has come right out and called these police officers 'pigs' although there were hints about that sort of mindthink.

We could not live as we do in large cities, sometimes even small cities and towns, without a police force to keep most of us safe. Cops are like anyone else: good, indifferent, and bad. They are not all the same. They are not all bloodthirsty monsters...as was this particular perp...who go out every day with the intention of maiming/killing everyone they come into contact with.

For those who do their jobs the best that they can, kudos for their efforts.

I keep thinking about those 4 officers, their wives and kids.

[superconnected]

100. I've noticed that. Thanks for saying it.

[SeattleGirl]

113. I heard the sister-in-law of one of the officers on the radio today.

The wife is still too broken up to talk to anyone (quite understandably so).

I was almost in tears listening to the sister-in-law, there was so much pain in her voice.

[DebbieCDC]

101. Well if this isn't an eye opener

Three guys charged with rendering criminal assistance to Clemmons have ALL had their bail set 4 times or more HIGHER than Clemmons' bail was for child rape (see story at www.king5.com -- local Seattle TV station).

How can child rape get a lower bond than "rendering criminal assistance" I'd like to know.

[SeattleGirl]

114. I have no idea, but I hope the judge who let him out on bail

doesn't get to keep warming his set for long.

[western mass]

116. Where are the "Christian Terrorist" headlines?

A mass-murderer. A Jesus-lover (just ask Mike Huckabee).

That makes him a Christian terrorist, right?

[R Hickey]

122. Was Huckabee's pardon based on Clennons' prison conversion?

What was Huckabee thinking when he let this guy out? All these people are dead because of Huckabee.

Clennons had been sentenced to 60 years before Huckabee set him free. Can Mike Huckabee explain his reason for all this clemency? Had Clemmons claimed to share Huckabee's religion?

If prison overcrowding was the problem, wouldn't it have been safer to just let out a few potheads embezzlers or jaywalkers?

[SeattleGirl]

130. Yep, from what I read, that's one of the reasons he let Clemmons out.

"Dear Governor Huckabee. I have found Jaysus. I am saved. Please let me out."

Huckabee: "Okay, you have convinced my 'Christian' heart. Go; be free.'"

This whole thing makes me so sick, I can't even describe it.

[happyslug]

135. 60 years for "Aggrieved Robbery", his cell mate was sentence to 25 years for Murder

You just have to question those Criminal Sentences, A murderer gets 25 years and put on Parole after 14 years on Prison, Maurice Clemmons was sentenced to 94 years for "aggravated robbery and theft" and was released after serving 11 years (He was re-arrested in 2001 for a Parole Violation, served 3 more years then released in 2004).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/29/multiple-police-officers-_n_373119.html

I am sorry, after serving 11 years for "aggravated robbery and theft" when a Murderer gets out in 14 years WITHOUT a pardon, you have a screwy legal system in the State of Arkansas. Given the re-arrest for the Parole Violation Maurice Clemmons served more time for his "aggravated robbery and theft" Conviction then his ex-cell mate did for Murder. Something is wrong with that picture and it is NOT Huckabee (Through he may be part of it given the right wing tendency to cut Social Services and to increase prison terms). While Huckabee, taken as a whole, may be part of the problem with crime, the pardon seems to be more a solution to the LENGTH of the orginal sentence (compared to the more serious crime of Murder) then anything else.

[Mad_Dem_X]

124. Good riddence. n/t

[SeattleGirl]

131. +1,000!!!