A Brief History
On November 29, 2009, career criminal Maurice Clemmons killed four Lakewood, Washington police officers with shots to the head while they were sitting in a coffee shop. Clemmons was a career criminal and apparently some kind of nut who that had been released early from prison in 2000 by then Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in what turned out to be a blunder of epic proportions. (Thanks a lot, Governor.)
Digging Deeper
Returning to a life of crime upon release, Clemmons racked up numerous felony charges in Arkansas and then Washington State where he had moved to in 2004. Sadly, despite his crimes and parole violations in Arkansas, bungling by either parole or court authorities allowed this killer to move to Washington State and continue his psychotic life of crime there. Even though he was labeled as someone who was at “high risk to reoffend” and even though he was under the so-called supervision of Washington Parole authorities, Clemmons was still out and about and up to no good. (Thanks Parole Board.)
Between 2004 and 2009, Clemmons managed to buy a total of 6 houses, which in itself is bizarre enough, but during this period he perpetrated several nutty incidents such as as stripping naked in front of his family and attempting to convince a 12-year-old girl that he was Jesus and his wife was Eve in order to rape her. He then told the cops who arrested him that he was the brother of Barack Obama, Lebron James and Oprah Winfrey. Now although charged with the sexual abuse of a child and facing various other felony charges, this maniac still freely roamed the streets. He also showed off a gun and told numerous friends and family members how much he hated and distrusted the police and that he was going to kill cops. (Thanks friends and family for contacting authorities.)
Since his felony charges and other activities constituted parole violations, Arkansas authorities could have extradited him back to be re-incarcerated, but for some reason they declined. (Thanks a lot, Arkansas authorities.)
During psychological testing, Clemmons talked of visions that included eating babies and drinking blood, and he accused the criminal “justice” system of persecuting him because he was black. The doctors labeled him a dangerous man at high risk for future offenses but also that he was competent for trial, which meant he could not automatically be put away. Instead of keeping him safely locked up, the genius judge allowed bond to be set, which Clemmons posted, setting him loose for what was to come. (Thanks psychologists and judge.)
Clemmons, freed by the bond posted by Jail Sucks Bail Bonds, claimed to be Lucifer and talked about his plan to shoot up a police station or just to kill people at a busy intersection. (Again, thanks to everyone who did not notify the authorities!) After a flat tire got between him and the police station, Clemmons and his 2 pistols were driven by a convicted murderer whom he had previously served with to a coffee shop where 4 cops were winding up their paperwork on their laptop computers. Once there, Clemmons shot the 4 cops, with one of them managing to shoot Clemmons back before dying. Clemmons then took that officer’s pistol and fled.
While on the lam, Clemmons was harbored and cared for by friends, but on December 1 fate caught up with him when the car he had stolen broke down and he was shot and killed by a Seattle policeman. Afterwards, 5 people were arrested for helping Clemmons out, and Darcus Allen was re-arrested for driving him to the coffee shop.
Why was this psycho free to commit all this mayhem? Clearly, he was about as nutty as they come. This is another obvious example of the mental health and justice systems failing to protect society. And why would his family and friends be so willing to assist a murdering maniac? At least for his own good, you would think they would have tried to prevent his terrible crimes.
This incident is particularly significant because it involved the most law enforcement officers being killed by a single perpetrator in all of U.S. history. This tragedy could have been prevented if only someone among Governor Huckabee, the Arkansas and Washington State authorities, the various parole boards, courts, judges, the numerous psychologists, Clemmons’ friends or family would have intervened properly and ensured that Clemmons was where he belonged, namely in prison! Question for students (and subscribers): What do you think could have been done to prevent this tragedy? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Armstrong, Ken and Jonathan Martin. The Other Side of Mercy: A Killer’s Journey Across the American Divide. Dog Ear Publishing, LLC, 2010.
