Posted on 11/29/2009 10:39:12 PM PST by Jack Black
Police surround Seattle home where person of interest in police shooting may be hiding A SWAT team and police negotiators surrounded a Leschi home in Seattle where the man sought for questioning in the Lakewood police shooting may be hiding. By Seattle Times staff A SWAT team and police negotiators surrounded a Leschi home in Seattle where the man sought for questioning in the Lakewood police shooting may be hiding. Police responded to the home at East Yesler Way and 32nd Avenue South where police stopped a woman who was leaving the home. She told them Maurice Clemmons was on the property and bleeding, according to a law enforcement source. The woman told police that someone had dropped Clemmons off at the home. The source also said police had received tips about two other properties they needed to search, in Queen Anne and Renton. At 8:44 p.m., Seattle police received information that the person of interest may be in a Leschi home, according to Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kappel. Police are now trying to confirm the identity of the person inside. Police blocked off the street at East Yesler and 30th Avenue South. Police are telling residents to stay indoors and keep their doors locked.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Freepersup posted the following info on the judge: please note his civic activities at bottom.
Honorable Thomas J. Felnagle
Department 15
Elected/Appt’d: January 6, 1992
——————EDUCATION-————
University of Oregon Law school, 1973
University of Puget Sound, 1970
——————CAREER HIGHLIGHTS—————
Private Practice 1974-1981
Volunteer service 1981-1983
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney 1983-1990
Governor’s Legal Counsel 1990-1992
——————PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS, COMMITTEES—————
Superior Court Judges’ Association
Past President of Puget Sound Chapter American Inns of Court
Twice Presiding Judge Pierce County Superior Court
Past Juvenile Court Presiding Judge
Past President & Vice Chair Sentencing Guidelines Commissioner
——————CIVIC INVOLVEMENT-—————
Judges in the classroom
Past President Hilltop Optimist Club
Coached Youth sports teams
“Save the Children”
The next question is who was the prosecutor in attendance during the bail hearing? Why, after hearing this judge threw out a previous judges “No Bail” decision, was an immediate appeal not filed and/or why was Arkansas not contacted and extradition proceedings begun?
Arkansas had an open warrant for Clemmons in the system for a parole violation.
Either of those actions would have potentially kept Clemmons in lockup.
This case is the most extreme example of our criminal justice system failing at numerous levels. The case also shows how all to often the only person who receives “justice” is the criminal.
“No Extradition” out of state warrants are fairly common, so that’s a possibility. States tend to not want to pay travel costs for any but active major crimes. Parole violations aren’t usually considered emergent.
Yep. Per the PI, Arkansas had a no-bail warrant and dropped it.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412750_pierceco30.html
Here ya go:
"A man with a history of violence bounces through the mental health and criminal justice systems, finally ending up sick and dangerous on the streets, where he commits violent attacks against strangers.
"Arkansas spent $39 per capita on mental health, compared to the average spending in the U.S. of $104.
"It’s time to realize mental illness is not the other guy’s problem. It’s our problem, and the time to deal with it is now."
http://invw.org/2009/11/seattle-police-shootings-show-once-again-that-when-the-dangerously-mentally-ill-dont-get-help-everyone-pays/
It's not his fault! It's you EVVVVIILL CONSERVATIVES!
Yep. I wonder when he removed it? Right after he was released and got home?
"The senseless and savage execution of police officers in Washington State has saddened the nation, and early reports indicate that a person of interest is a repeat offender who once lived in Arkansas and was wanted on outstanding warrants here and Washington State. The murder of any individual is a profound tragedy, but the murder of a police officer is the worst of all murders in that it is an assault on every citizen and the laws we live within.
Should he be found to be responsible for this horrible tragedy, it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State. He was recommended for and received a commutation of his original sentence from 1990. This commutation making him parole eligible and was paroled by the parole board once they determined he met the conditions at that time. He was arrested later for parole violation and taken back to prison to serve his full term, but prosecutors dropped the charges that would have held him. It appears that he has continued to have a string of criminal and psychotic behavior but was not kept incarcerated by either state. This is a horrible and tragic event and if found and convicted the offender should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts and prayers are and should be with the families of those honorable, brave, and heroic police officers."
Let me add my seething “geez,” to Arkansas dropping their no-bail warrant, but the fact remains that Judge Felnagle
had no business setting a reasonable bail for a dangerous, repeat felon accused of child rape.
I just heard that Clemmons remains at large!!!! Someone has to be assisting him.
Heretofore, it was my understanding that GPS devices were rigged to trigger an immediate response from the police once the device was removed. Apparently, I was mistaken.
I was listening to the scanner earlier and they said a guy got out of a green Maxda 626 (confused with his wife’s millenia???) and into a Flatbed truck - white cab with orange bed.
Not sure if this is the same vehicle as the bloody rag one. But - it was in the stadium area. This is just several blocks (5-10???) from the Leschi area that was surrounded last night.
South of Pioneer Square (lots of homeless, etc.), “The Jungle” - a homeless camp under I-5, and of course - I-5.
The cops just got done sweeping a park just east of I-5 near the UW - about 5-10 miles north of the stadium area. Witness, plus a fresh blood trail running from a bus stop to a park bathroom. Nothing found in the park.
While true, a parole violation isn’t taken as seriously as say an open warrant for murder - but when you’re faced with a habitual criminal whose been charged with the sexual assault of a child and assault on a police officer AND has an extensive multi-state criminal record, a prosecutor can use an open warrant as a way to keep a person locked up.
Bless you and thank you for the detailed report!
My heart goes out to the police offiers and my prayers are with them as well. I know they’re trying to find Clemmons and I hope they will before nightfall.
Sounds like the house site is just some homeowner’s that are spooked. They came home from a 10-day vacation and saw a curtain that looked like it was in the wrong spot on a window.
Cops are at the house waiting for backup and said “doors are wide open”. Other cop said “those doors are open from when the owners fled after they noticed the curtain”.
The one cop thought it was another goose-chase but they are waiting for back up to check it out.
You rock! Thank you for yet another detailed report. I can’t listen to the scanner for another two hours and I hope he’s found dead by then.
Folks out there mustbe awfully nervous with this psychopathic killer running around loose.
Can’t say I blame them.
The cops on the scanner don’t seem nervous - but they sure are on edge! And rightly so.
Pulling over a BMW near Leschi site. “Any extra caution needed?” “No - standard procedures”.
Another call on a guy running towards “The Jungle” (homeless camp near Leschi site). Describing suspect, etc. one cop says “..white” “OH - he’s white? Are you sure he’s not black?”
“Yeah, white guy, clean shaven..”
Can’t imagine how these cops can stay so cool.
Now they are heading to a house on 34th which is about 6 block east of the park. Lady heard a noise downstairs about five minutes ago.
They are probably confident he is in the area and will catch him soon.
Have they gone door to door yet?
That’s going to go on as long as it’s getting media play. And you know what? It’s just fine. A citizen tip is what nabbed the other dude.
Thanks for your reports. They are really on-the-spot.
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