Leschi SWAT Update - Suspect not found in house-Updated

Update: According to Times reporter sbhatt, the house near Erie & Superior has been cleared and the suspect was not found. He is believed to be armed and dangerous. Barricades are also being removed around the area, letting people back to their houses for the first time in hours.

Earlier:

The SWAT operation continues this morning in Leschi near Erie and Superior where police are searching for a man wanted in the murder of four police officers at a coffee shop in the small town of Lakewood south of Tacoma.

SPD spokesperson Jeff Kappel says that he expects the operation to continue "well past" 7am. Police barricades are still up around the area, keeping people out of their homes for more than 10 hours. We've not been able to reach SPD this morning to see when that perimeter might at least be relaxed.

The man they're searching for is 37 year-old Maurice Clemmons, who is the suspect in the murder of those four officers. He is believed to have been wounded in the shooting, and earlier in the day Pierce County authorities put out a bulletin that he was a person of interest in the murder. Pierce County Sheriff spokesman Ed Troyer now says he is definitely a suspect and that it is unknown if he is dead or alive.

Clemmons is a resident of Pierce County and is facing charges there of Child Rape. According to SeattleCrime.com, he was released on a $150,000 bail last week, and previously faced a long prison sentence in Arkansas before being released in 2000 via a pardon by former governor Mike Huckabee. Huckabee issued a short statement on the matter last night.

SeattleCrime.com also reports that police were alerted to the location in Leschi by a woman who dropped him off there earlier in the day. The owners of the house in question share the same last name as Clemmons and may be relatives.

Seattle Times photographer Cliff Despeaux had a front-row seat for the operation last night and said that a robot was being deployed into the house in an attempt to search it for the suspect. There are several structures on that property, including an old trailer, and police are taking every precaution as they try to search for the suspect.

Although this is just blocks from where Officer Timothy Brenton was murdered on Halloween, authorities say there is no tie between the two men or the crimes.

We'll continue to try to get more details on the timing of the operation and when people might be able to return home. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day.

Also check out the continuing coverage of our news parters at the Seattle Times and at SeattleCrime.com.

Update x2: according to @jseattle, SPD was "all but certain" that the suspect was at the house at some point last night. Also, while some barricades are still up, residents are being allowed past to get to and from their homes.

Update x3: Here's a photo of the suspect who is still at large. Call 911 and do not approach him if you see him. A huge regional manhunt is under way.

Update x4: Here is photo of a house with broken windows at the site of the SWAT operation:

Update x5: SeattleCrime.com reports that police are getting lots of tips to the suspects whereabouts, but he remains at large. Area around UW has been a recent focus.