Cop killer's driver likely to face criminal charges, prosecution says

TACOMA — A Pierce County deputy prosecutor said Wednesday he expects criminal charges to be brought against the man who allegedly drove the killer of four Lakewood police officers to the area where the Nov. 29 slayings occurred.

The charges against Darcus D. Allen could include murder, rendering criminal assistance or conspiracy, Stephen Penner of the prosecutor's homicide unit said after a brief hearing in Pierce County Superior Court where a judge was provided an update on the case.

"He's looking at very serious charges," Penner said, explaining that prosecutors were reviewing a voluminous amount of complex law-enforcement reports and statements.

Allen, 38, was being held without bail on a warrant from Arkansas while prosecutors examine his role in driving Maurice Clemmons in a pickup to and from a carwash two blocks from a Parkland coffee shop where Clemmons fatally shot the officers. In an exchange of gunfire, one officer wounded Clemmons, 37, who eluded police for nearly two days until he was shot and killed Dec. 1 by a Seattle police officer.

Allen was booked into the Pierce County Jail on Dec. 1 on suspicion of rendering criminal assistance. He's been held since then on a fugitive warrant from Arkansas, where he has been linked to a March 22 bank robbery in Little Rock. Allen previously served 14 years for a 1990 double murder in Arkansas, where he did prison time with Clemmons.

The Arkansas warrant has kept him in jail without bail, allowing Pierce County prosecutors time to consider charges.

At Wednesday's hearing, Penner said Arkansas authorities are working to obtain a warrant from that's state governor to initiate extradition proceedings.

But Allen would be prosecuted in Pierce County if new charges are brought against him, Penner told reporters.

Police have said Allen could face murder charges in the Lakewood officers' slayings depending on his level of involvement. Allen has told investigators he wasn't aware of what happened after Clemmons briefly left the carwash and then returned to the pickup.

Allen is to return to court Jan. 27. Penner said his office is likely to decide by then whether to file charges.

"I would be surprised" if charges are not filed, Penner said.

Killed in the coffee shop were Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards.

In addition to Allen, five relatives and a friend of Clemmons have been charged with helping Clemmons elude police.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this story.

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