Cops: Lakewood Officers Were "Targeted," "Ambushed"

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Sergeant Mark Renniger of the Lakewood Police Dept. was one of four officers shot and killed at a Parkland, Wash. coffee house on Nov. 29, 2009.

Locals say that you could often see police officers sitting side by side with regular customers at Forza Coffee on South Spring Street in the Tacoma, Wash. suburb of Parkland.

The morning of Nov. 29, 2009 seemed no different, as four uniformed officers from the nearby Lakewood Police Department sat and worked on their laptops.

The three male officers and one female officer who comprised one patrol unit were preparing for their shift.

Witnesses say that around 8:15 a.m., a black male walked up to the counter with with a semi-concealed hand gun.

One of the baristas noticed the weapon and shouted. 

That's when, witnesses say, 37-year-old ex-con Maurice Clemons turned around and opened fire on the four police officers. 

The four officers -- Greg Richards, Mark Renniger, Ronald Owen, and Tina Griswold -- were mortally wounded, although one officer was able to return fire at Clemmons as he fled, according to Pierce County authorities.

Pierce County spokesman Ed Troyer described the deadly shooting as an ambush, and said that the Lakewood officers were targeted.

"They had marked police cars, marked uniforms, there were other people inside the facility, they weren't shot, wounded or hurt or even aimed at, just the police officers were," said Troyer.

Cops say Clemmons was most likely wounded and was wearing a black coat with a gray sweatshirt underneath, and blue jeans at the time of the shooting. 

Lakewood's mayor, Douglas Richardson, said in a statement that the four slain officers were all part of the original Lakewood force, which began operations in 2004.

Police Standoff Ends With Clemmons Still At Large

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Officer Tina Griswold was one of four Lakewood, Wash. police officers who were shot and killed by a gunman at a Parkland, Wash. coffee house.

The next morning, police surrounded a home in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood after they received information that Clemmons may be inside.

During the 11-hour stand-off, authorities fired tear gas canisters into the home, and there were reports of gunfire. However, when officers moved in, Clemmons was nowhere to be found.

Police say Clemmons cut off an ankle bracelet that might have been used to track him.  The ankle bracelet may have been a condition imposed by a bail-bond company that posted his bail last week.

The bracelet was found at a residence searched by police. 

Clemmons has an extensive criminal past. In 1989, Clemmons, then 17, was convicted in Little Rock, Ark. of aggravated robbery. He was paroled in 2000 after his 95-year prison sentence was commuted.

Clemmons has lived in Tacoma, where he runs a landscaping and power-washing business out of his house.  The ex-con has an extensive violent criminal history, and has had at least two altercations with police earlier this year.

He was recently charged in Washington with assaulting a police officer, and with second-degree rape of a child.

Using a bail bondsman, he posted $150,000 -- only $15,000 of his own money -- and was released from jail in November 2009.

Accused Cop Killer Dead After Police Shootout

For most of day, police in Seattle were following tips and leads that placed a wounded Clemmons all over town.  Soon, cops ascertained that the murder suspect was getting help from family and friends and that some of those people had been giving authorities bad information when they were questioned.

However, at nearly 2:45 AM, a Seattle police officer investigating a possible stolen vehicle came face to face with Maurice Clemmons.  Cops say an armed Clemmons tried to approach the officer's car and was shot to death when he wouldn't halt. 

Authorities pronounced Clemmons dead at the scene. 

Accused Cop Killer Dead After Police Shootout

The nearly two-day manhunt for a man suspected of killing four Lakewood, Wash. police officers has ended in south Seattle.  An SPD officer was investigating a possible stolen car when he came face to face with the murder suspect, Maurice Clemmons. 

Seattle police said the officer was on routine patrol when he saw a car with the hood up and the engine running.  The officer ran the license plate and determined the car had been stolen, Seattle Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said.

Authorities say the car had been reported stolen from the 4800 block of South Chicago Street about 12:45 a.m.

According to investigators, Clemmons was approaching the officer's patrol car on the driver's side when the officer noticed him and commanded him to show his hands. 

Cops say Clemmons was shot and killed when he turned and tried to run behind the patrol car.  He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Police say that Clemmons was armed with a handgun that belonged to one of the four slain Lakewood officers. 

Several accomplices, including friends and family members, who helped Clemmons stay on the run have been arrested. 

Pierce County spokesman Ed Troyer said that more arrests may be coming.