Judge orders Clemmons' sister held in custody

TACOMA — A Pierce County judge this afternoon has ordered the sister of Maurice Clemmons to be held until Wednesday so prosecutors can continue to look into allegations that she helped a man who drove her brother to the area where four Lakewood police officers were killed Nov. 29.

Judge Lisa Worswick scheduled a hearing for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Prosecutors must decide by then whether to charge LaTanya Clemmons, 34, possibly with rendering criminal assistance.

LaTanya Clemmons was taken into custody Friday afternoon during the arraignment of two other women who allegedly helped Clemmons. She was booked into Pierce County Jail over the weekend, but has not been charged.

Maurice Clemmons fatally shot four Lakewood police officers Nov. 29. He was able to elude police until early Tuesday morning, when he was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer. Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards were killed by Clemmons as they sat in the Forza Coffee shop.

Police allege LaTanya Clemmons helped her brother escape a manhunt after the shootings and, according to a search warrant, was seen entering one of Clemmons' residences with him hours after the officers were killed.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said told reporters today that LaTanya Clemmons allegedly helped Darcus Allen, 38, during the two-day manhunt. Allen, who did time with Maurice Clemmons in an Arkansas prison, is being held in custody as a fugitive from Arkansas.

In court, Lindquist said she had helped an individual or individuals after she became aware of the slaying of the police officers.

Prosecutors allege Allen drove Clemmons to and from the scene of the shootings. They say he could face murder charges depending on his level of involvement.

Lindquist said LaTanya Clemmons has not been truthful with investigators since she was taken into custody Friday.

Six relatives and friends of Clemmons have been arrested so far for allegedly helping him elude police.

Two women, Clemmons' aunt Letricia Nelson and Quiana Maylea Williams, 26, were arraigned Friday on charges of providing transportation, medical treatment and medical supplies to Maurice Clemmons, 37, after he killed the four officers.

Nelson was charged with six counts of rendering criminal assistance and one count of illegal possession of a handgun that came from one of the Lakewood officers.

She pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $1.5 million. If convicted as charged, she could face up to 40 years in prison, according to Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist.

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report