Lakewood Police News Reports

Police killer Maurice Clemmons' accomplices sentenced

TACOMA, Wash. -- A Pierce County judge sentenced three friends and family memebers of Maurice Clemmons Friday for their actions following the murder of four Lakewood police officers.

In November 2009, Clemmons shot and killed Sergeant Mark Renniger and Officers Tina Griswold, Greg Richards and Ronald Owens at a Parkland coffee shop.

In December 2010, a jury convicted Clemmons' aunt, Letrecia Nelson, on one count of rendering criminal assistance. Nelson was accused of helping Clemmons hide from police after the killings. Pierce County Judge Stephanie Arend sentenced Nelson to six years in prison.

The same jury found Eddie Davis, Clemmons' cousin, guilty of rendering criminal assistance. Prosecutors said he gave Clemmons rides and lied to police about knowing where Clemmons had been while on the run. Police said Davis had been in possession of one of the officer's guns, which had been taken by Clemmons.

Douglas Davis, a friend of Clemmons, was found guilty of unlawful possession of that firearm.

Eddie Davis received a sentence just under 10 and half years and Judge Arend sentenced Douglas Davis to seven and a half years.

Fiancee slain Lakewood Police Officer Chris Matlosz speaks out about loss

LAKEWOOD — The fiancee of Lakewood Police Officer Chris Matlosz who was fatally shot Friday afternoon expressed her devastation over the loss of her husband-to-be.
"Chris was my best friend and soulmate. We did everything together. In the last 4 years, we both lived our life to the fullest," Walsifer said in a statement.
Kelly Walsifer and Matlosz were supposed to be married in June 2012.
"He was my life and my world. He made me laugh, he made others laugh, and we have been surrounded by the best of friends and co-workers throughout our time together," said Walsifer.
"He just lost his father and now it brings me some peace to know that he is with him."
A Facebook page created in memory of Matlosz had more seven thousand followers just before 6 p.m. today who expressed condolences to his family. Many of them had changed their profile pictures to the Lakewood police crest adorned with a blue and black line, some bearing Matlosz's badge number: 317.

Heat’s road streak ends in loss to Clippers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin had 24 points and 14 rebounds for his 30th double-double, and the Los Angeles Clippers surprised Miami 111-105 Wednesday night, ending the Heat’s 13-game road winning streak.

Eric Gordon added 26 points and Baron Davis had 20 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who led virtually the entire game against the NBA’s second-best team. It was just the 13th win of the season for Los Angeles.

“Beat the Heat!” the sellout crowd stood and chanted in the closing seconds.

Dwyane Wade scored 31 points, LeBron James added 27 and Chris Bosh had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat, who had also won nine in a row overall.

The Clippers repelled all of Miami’s threats, the most dramatic coming with 6:37 to play.

James appeared to hurt his left leg on a drive to the basket when he got blocked and his momentum carried him out of bounds past the baseline. He hobbled back onto the court wincing while the Heat still had the ball and sank a 3-pointer from the left corner. After a timeout, James returned to the game.

A 3-pointer by Mario Chalmers again drew the Heat within two, but the Clippers then scored six in a row to lead 103-95 with 4:17 left. Griffin had four points, with Davis sandwiching a fast-break driving layup in between.

With the sellout crowd hanging on every possession, Chalmers and Griffin were called for offsetting technicals when they tangled with 4:32 to go.

A three-point play by James and a 3-pointer by Bosh got the Heat within four, but Gordon calmly made two free throws to seal the stunning win.

Los Angeles won its third in a row and eighth in its last 11, while notching its 10th home win nearly halfway through the season.

The Clippers led by 11 early in the third, when Miami twice got within three, mostly by making nine of 10 free throws.

But the Clippers outscored the Heat 8-3 over the final 3:23 to lead 86-78 going into the fourth. Gordon scored four in a row, and rookie Al-Farouq Aminu had the crowd roaring when Eric Bledsoe stole the ball and fed him for a fast-break dunk.

The Clippers outplayed the Heat in the first half, helped by their transition game and the high-energy crowd. Their 44 points in the first quarter, when they shot 77 percent, were a season high and their 68 in the first half tied a season best.

The Heat’s shooting improved to 60 percent in the second quarter, but they trailed by 21 near the start before cutting their deficit to 68-58 at the break.

Los Angeles owned a 24-12 edge in the paint and led by 18 in the opening quarter. Miami’s lone lead came when the Heat scored the game’s first three points.

Notes: Miami has scored at least 90 points in 18 straight games. … The Heat fell to 6-1 against the Pacific Division this season, and had their 11-game winning streak against the division dating to last season end. … Miami’s road win streak was the second-longest in franchise history. … It was the Clippers’ fourth sellout of the season. … Celebs on hand included Rihanna, Jessica Alba, Billy Crystal and Lisa Leslie.

Sophia Bush Mourns Loss of Little Cousin in Tucson Massacre

The shots fired in a Tucson, Arizona town hall meeting on Saturday have ricocheted in Hollywood. Sophia Bush's nine-year-old cousin was fatally shot by the gunman and calls the violence "devastating."

"There are no words to explain what my cousin's family is going through in Arizona. How can this be? Violence is never the answer," tweeted the "One Tree Hill" actress, who is second cousins to the victim. "If you know anyone who is struggling, please reach out to them. No one should feel so alone that they resort to senseless violence."

According to the New York Times, Christina Green was a stellar student and stand-out athlete. To see her local government in action, her mom allowed her to see Representative Gabrielle Giffords speak at a townhall meeting near their home. A gunman opened fire, seriously wounding Rep. Giffords and killing six attendees, including Christina.

As the only girl on her little league team, Christina was following in the cleats of her family. Her father, John Green, is a supervising scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Her grandfather, Dallas Green, managed the Philadelphia Phillies when they won the 1980 World Series and also had stints managing the New York Yankees and Mets.

Christina came into this world on another tragic day in American history, September 11, 2001. Her mom, Roxanna Green, told the NYT, "Christina's birth was a happy event and made the day bittersweet." The young girl was featured in the book Faces of Hope, in which 50 babies born on September 11 were photographed.

'Country Strong' actress Gwyneth Paltrow was also touched by the tragedy. She is a relative of Rep. Giffords and told ET her "thoughts and prayers" are with the recovering politician.