New Trial Ordered For Get Away Driver Involved In Four Lakewood Cop Homicides

Get away driver facing new trial in the murder of four Lakewood police officers in 2009.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

January 30, 2015

Tacoma, Washington -  Darcus Dewayne Allen, 43, or Dorcus Allen, the get away driver allegedly involved in the murders of four Lakewood police officers on November 2009 who was convicted as an accomplice in May 2011 for four counts of first-degree of murder and sentenced to 420 years in prison will get a new trial, the Washington State Supreme Court (WSSC) ruled on January 15. Allen was charged for driving Maurice Clemmons, 37, to the Parkland coffee shop on November 29, 2009 where Clemmons allegedly walked into the shop and fatally shot four Lakewood Police Officers, Greg Richards, 42, Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, Tina Griswold, 40, and Ronald Owens, 37, while they were inside. 

Clemmons and Allen the accused get away driver then fled the scene. Clemmons was killed two days later by a Seattle police officer.

Clemmons had bragged that he wanted to kill some police officers and Allen knew and drove Clemmons to the coffee shop, according to the criminal complaint.

The WSSC in a 26-page opinion ruled that the Pierce County deputy prosecutor during Allen's trial engaged in "prejudicial misconduct" that influence a jury by repeatedly misstating the law describing how a defendant must have prior knowledge of a crime to be committed in order to be convicted by a jury and ordered a new trial. The Pierce County prosecutor's office maintains that Allen was convicted on evidence and are confident Allen will be convicted once again. A new trial for Allen will be scheduled in 60 days.

Allen's 26-page ruling at link (PDF): http://1.usa.gov/1zGaTLU